A/C & Heating Repairs In Slidell LA.
Table of Contents
This post will go over various issues of A/C & Heating Repairs In Slidell LA. A system may encounter and how it prevents the system from working correctly. The problems may keep the system from working at all.
This website was created to assist people who look for their own solutions and want to know what’s wrong with their system before they call a service company. Who knows you may not even need to call a service company. By knowing what to expect you won’t be taken advantage of or spend more money than you need to.
A/C HEATING REPAIR in Slidell, LA 70458
A/C & Heating Repairs In Slidell LA.
When looking for local A/C HEATING REPAIR in Slidell look no further than The After 5 & Weekends A/C and Heating Website.
This website was created to assist people who look for their own solutions and want to know what’s wrong with their system before they call a service company. Who knows you may not even need to call a service company. By knowing what to expect you won’t be taken advantage of or spend more money than you need to.
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Why call us to service your air conditioner or heater in Slidell, La?
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Here are some a/c and heating repair common issues we encounter here in Slidell, LA
A/C HEATING REPAIR # 1
A furnace in Slidell, LA homes are often left untouched and aren’t serviced for many years.
Living in the real world I understand why people would choose to follow Murphey Law and not touch what’s working. But there are so many moving parts and safety parts that are apart of the sequence of operation for a furnace in Slidell.
I have been in many homes in Slidell, LA and found safety issues with furnaces.
COMMON FURNACE ISSUES
Here are some common issues I have found with Slidell, furnaces
- Flue pipe detached
- Burner Needs Adjustment or Cleaning
- Thermostat Problems
- Bad limit switch
- Bad relay
- Natural gas pressure problem
- Natural gas leakage
- Bad ignitor
- Bad flame sensor
- Clogged inline duct filter
- Bad control board
- Bad blower motor
- Cracked heat exchanger
Obviously from the list, there are a lot of issues that can cause a furnace to have issues.
Many homes in Slidell, LA have flue pipes that are detached. The detached flue pipes allow dangerous carbon monoxide to flow back into homes in Slidell, LA
When our experts here at After 5 & weekends A/C and Heating find detached flue pipes we often hear homeowners say that they have headaches and other health issues that are attributed to natural gas leakage in residential homes.
Flue pipe leakage that homeowner wasn’t aware of and the whole family had headaches and other health issues.
Flue pipe carbon monoxide leakage in Slidell.
Furnaces that don’t have regular maintenance and professional inspection often have burner problems.
When a professional HVAC expert does maintenance on your system they will ensure the correct flow of gas that will ensure a good flow of gas to the burners.
Sometimes we encounter homes in Slidell, LA that have defective thermostats.
If your home in Slidell has a defective thermostat your furnace won’t operate correctly.
What Does a Furnace Limit Switch Do?
There are two primary functions of a limit switch.
Until the air generated inside the furnace warms up sufficiently, the limit switch will not allow the fan to come on.
If the temperature of the air around the heat exchanger should become too hot the limit switch essentially kills the burner.
The Most Common Issues with Limit Switches
As with any equipment, components of your heating system can break this includes the limit switch.
If your furnace’s blower continues to operate without cutting out, it may be that the limit switch is malfunctioning this is the most common problem of a problem.
Just as it won’t allow the fan to come on until the air has warmed to a certain temperature, the limit switch will shut down once the air cools to a certain degree.
If your furnace’s blower continues to run and doesn’t cycle off, it could be the result of a limit switch that is beginning to go bad.
Under certain circumstances, the limit switch will prevent your furnace from operating.
This is the case when a clogged air filter prevents sufficient air from circulating through the system, which ultimately limits airflow and may cause the heat exchanger to become overly heated.
The limit switch will turn the burner off when it senses an overheated heat exchanger.
The electric relay in a furnace is responsible for relaying electrical power to the heating elements and the blower motor inside the furnace cabinet.
The heating elements provide the heat to warm the air, and the blower motor sends this warmed air through the ductwork.
The thermostat switches the relay to the closed position when the heat is called for, sending electrical power, and then to open position when the furnace reaches the indoor target temperature, cutting off the power.
The relay is therefore crucial for the furnace’s operation.
You might at first imagine that a faulty relay will cause the furnace’s heating elements and fans to fail to turn on.
Another problem that occurs just as frequently from a faulty relay is that the heating elements and the blower fan will refuse to shut off.
The reason for this is that the relay could become broken into the closed position and continues to allow power through to the heating elements and the fans.
Over time and without proper maintenance in your Slidell home the amps passing through the relay will cause it to heat up so much that its contacts weld together.
leaks in the main gas lines are very dangerous. many of the homes we go to in Slidell, LA have leaks in gas lines and have no idea.
Flame sensors are common wear and tear parts that need to be tested and replaced on a routine basis.
Control boards in furnaces are a common problem that prevents a furnace from operating correctly.
Blower motors in furnaces in Slidell, LA are a common problem that we encounter here when someone in Slidell calls and says their furnace isn’t coming on.
A cracked heat exchanger is a serious problem in a furnace, we test this on every furnace maintenance we go on.
Common A/C problems
Clogged Drain Line
Common issue #1 that causes the need for emergency a/c services is the evaporator coil pan and the primary drain line gets clogged.
The evaporator coil has an internal pan that needs routine maintenance to prevent algae build-up, and if left unserviced you may need emergency a/c services.
If your system hasn’t been serviced in the last year it may be possible that you have algae in the internal evaporator coil pan and in the primary drain line.
When your drain line and coil pan is full of slimy algae it doesn’t allow the water condensation to flow through. When the water can’t go through the drain line it will often back up.
If your system has an emergency shut off switch it will shut the system off.
#2 Capacitor
The most common need for emergency a/c services #2 is a bad capacitor.
Most split A/C and Heating systems in Slidell have capacitors in the inside and outside equipment.
If you have a capacitor that’s bad on the indoor air handler or the outdoor condenser then the system will not operate correctly.
#3 Low Refrigerant
The most common need for emergency a/c services #3 is low refrigerant.
Sometimes when we are on emergency a/c services we arrive and determine the system is low on refrigerant, we will check the system for leaks before adding refrigerant in the system.
Some Technicians will immediately jump to the conclusion the system is low on refrigerant. Many times after connecting gauges the readings will have you thinking the refrigerant is low.
Many other aspects of the system should be checked before you just start adding refrigerant.
However, if it’s low and no leaks can be found then it can be added and get the system back on.
#4 Contactor
the most common need for emergency a/c services #4 is a bad capacitor.
Some systems have contactors on the inside and the outside system. If the contractor isn’t transferring power then the system won’t come on.
Contactors are one of those parts on a system that gets worked a lot. The contractor has a significant amount of wear and tear due to the workload.
There are several things that can happen to a contractor that will prevent them from working properly.
If you have a contractor on your system that’s not working properly then we have several various types on our service trucks and can replace yours with the exact one you need and get you back up and running.
#5 Thermostat
If you have a bad thermostsat then the system will not function at all or it may only partially function.
Some systems need emergency ac services on a very specific thermostat to operate the exact system it’s designed for. Other systems can use a universal style thermostat and get you back up and running.
#6 Condenser Fan Motor
The condenser is the unit that’s outside your home and, if the fan outside isn’t running it may be a bad motor. Before going through all the work of removing it I would varify it’s actually bad.
Far too often the capacitor is bad and the motor is still good. If you have a bad condenser fan motor we have the tools and the specific type of motor your system needs.
We usually can have it replaced the same day and get you back up and running.
#7 Transformer
Emergency a/c services common issue #7
Some A/C & Heating systems in Slidell, LA have a transformer that converts power going to the control board.
If the transformer is bad power will not be transferred to the control board and the system won’t operate.
#8 Control Board
If your system isn’t running at all or is only operating in certain modes then you may have a bad control board. We visit many homes in Slidell that have bad control boards.
Some neighborhoods in Slidell get an excessive amount of electrical surges. We have had success in preventing control boards from getting fried by installing a whole-home surge protector.
If your control board is bad we can get one installed fast and get your system back up and running.
#9 Emergency pan
If something isn’t operating correctly on your system and water fills up the emergency pan it will most likely engage the safety shut off switch.
The emergency pan has a safety shut off switch that shuts the system off so water won’t overflow and damage the ceiling of your home.
If your emergency pan is full then you should give us a call because something else is going on with the system. We will have to do some troubleshooting to determine what’s causing the emergency pan to overflow.
#10 Compressor
The compressor is the main motor in the outdoor condenser. Quite often someone in Slidell will call us and say they think they have a bad compressor.
However, when we arrive we find the compressor isn’t 100% bad it’s just not working because the thermal overload is preventing it from coming on.
If this is the case we can perform the appropriate test to check and determine if the compressor is bad or if it is just out on thermal overload.
Either way, we have the material and equipment required to get your system back up and running fast.
What else?
That’s the list of the 10 most common issues we run into with Heating and A/C systems in Slidell.
Obviously there are many more issues that can be wrong with an HVAC system here in Slidell, LA but I wanted to list the ones we most frequently come across.
The Top 10 Routine Services Your Slidell, LA Home A/C, And Heating Equipment Needs.
If you live in Slidell, La and are wondering what services you need in order to keep your HVAC equipment operating at tip-top energy efficiency and to prevent costly breakdowns here you go.
The top 10 are not in order of importance. Like most equipment that works together as a system,
if one part of your HVAC system isn’t working good or is dirty it will affect other parts of the system.
Here are the top 10
#1 Clean Evaporator Coil
Evaporator coils in the Slidell, LA area need to have routine cleanings and adjustments done in order to keep them operating at their peak performance.
The evaporator coil has refrigerant which is responsible for absorbing the heat and humidity in your home’s air.
When your evaporator coil becomes dirty from dust impacting between the fins it drastically reduces the ability for your air conditioning or heat pump system to operate how it needs to.
Many homeowners in Slidell. LA don’t notice a big difference in the performance of their Air Conditioner or heater until they have a major breakdown.
The reason people don’t notice a difference in the performance of the evaporator coil is because performance loss happens over time. The dust and moisture slowly clog the normal path the air would take allowing the refrigerant to absorb the heat.
Because the air cant go through the normal path the air will divert and the refrigerant doesn’t have an opportunity to absorb the heat as it should.
The vast majority of residential emergency ac services have split system ac system evaporator coils in Slidell, LA homes are enclosed in a housing. For this reason, the evaporator coil is out of sight and out of mind and usually goes many years without being cleaned.
While performing routine maintenance and service in Slidell, La I’m often asked how often should an evaporator coil in Slidell be cleaned. My answer is, it all depends.
I think at a minimum every home should have the evaporator coil professionally cleaned 1 time per year. Having your system serviced will prevent needing emergency ac services.
But if you live closer to Lake Pontchartrain, have multiple pets and an inadequate filter system you may need it cleaned multiple times per year.
#2 Clean Condenser Coil
If your house in Slidell has a typical split system then your condenser coil will be located outside.
When the refrigerant inside your evaporator coil absorbs the heat the refrigerant will become a vehicle and carry the heat and humidity outside to the condenser.
The condenser coil fins need to be free of debris in order for the air to pass over the coil and create the process where the heat that was absorbed by the refrigerant can be released outside.
Your condenser coil is subject to all the elements outside.
Every time the condenser turns on air is being sucked through the fins. The air will include dust, pollen, grass clippings and many other items that can and will get stuck in the fins.
I have found Leaves, dust, dirt, insects and dead animals inside the condenser coil.
By having the condenser coil professionally cleaned your condenser will be able to perform at its optimum performance keeping your utility bill low and extending the life of your system and prevent the need for emergency ac services.
#3 Proper Refrigerant Amount
Having the correct amount of refrigerant in your air conditioner or heat pump system is very important for your system to operate at its full potential.
If you live in Slidell, LA then you know how hot and humid it can get. Many of the homes I service in Slidell don’t have adequate insulation in the attic or inside the exterior walls, so having your refrigerant level exactly where it needs to be is very important.
Having a professional service company with the correct equipment to accurately measure multiple data that affects the performance of your system is extremely important.
Many of the homes that are serviced here in Slidell are over-charged with refrigerant. Most often the system is over-charged because of technician error. Having the wrong amount of refrigerant will create the need for emergency ac services.
Many technicians will immediately suggest to a homeowner that the system needs refrigerant or as it’s commonly called by a brand name “FREON.”
This should not be the first recommendation given by professionals until they have checked many of the other factors that can contribute to the appearance of the refrigerant being low or high on gauges.
Technician’s readings can be misleading if the airflow is restricted in some way in the HVAC system.
For this reason, I find many of the systems I connect my gauges to overcharge.
Having an HVAC system over or undercharged is bad and will hinder the performance and life of the system.
If everything else is correctly sized and installed correctly on the system but, the refrigerant is just low then a leak test will need to be performed to ensure no leak is present.
The refrigerant is the vehicle that carries the heat outside, so when the refrigerant is low there is less of the vehicle to carry the required amount of heat.
Having a professional that has experience with mismatched equipment and undersized ducts and many other factors to determine if your system is accurately charged is so important.
#4 Clean Blower Motor
Having a clean blower motor on your system probably doesn’t seem very important but it is. When a blower motor hasn’t had a professional cleaning in a while.
Dust will impact the high-velocity spinning blades and become impacted and hard.
After the dust impacts the blades it reduces the ability for the blades to catch and move the air correctly.
Even small amounts of impacted debris on the fan blades will reduce the life of the blower motor and reduce the ability of the blower fan to move air in the home.
Most blower motors require the removal of electrical wires from the control board and other mechanical things that must be removed in order to be properly cleaned.
This should b done by a professional that has worked on and has experience shutting off all the power and making sure to not damage or bend any of the components during removal.
#5 Primary & Secondary Drain Line
The primary and secondary drain lines should be routinely cleaned out and checked to ensure the free flow of the condensation coming from the evaporator coil.
When air flows past the evaporator coil it carries dust and other elements in that air. When that air hits the evaporator coil some of that debris gets in the coil and in the evaporator coil drain pan.
Not the emergency pan but, the internal drain pan inside the evaporator coil enclosure.
Algae and other dust will collect in the drain pan and work its way into the drain line.
If a professional company is servicing your equipment they should be doing what’s required to ensure the drain pan and primary drain line don’t clog up.
Living in Slidell, La adds to the number of algae build in the evaporator coil.
I have found that due to the proximity of Lake Ponchartrain routine maintenance on the evaporator coil and cleaning of the evaporator coil pan and drain lines are required.
#6 Capacitors
Your system may have a few capacitors that need to be checked to make sure they are still strong enough and haven’t gone below the manufacture’s suggested replacement.
The capacitor will have a sticker on the side of it that tells you what size in Microfarads.
For example, if you have a dual run capacitor it may be a 40/5 MFD capacitor. The 40 MFD is used to assist the compressor and the 5 MFD is used to assist the condenser fan motor.
The sticker will give an allowable % below the original rating that is allowable.
For example, if your capacitor is the 40/5 and you use the tester and it only reads 30/2 then the capacitor should be changed out.
Even if the condenser is still operational you should change out the capacitor to prevent any of the other components from being damaged due to overload.
I prefer to test capacitors under load. Testing in that manner should only be done by a trained professional.
However, there are capacitor testers that make it fairly simple for a mechanically inclined person who has the time to check the capacitor.
The indoor blower motor will often have a single run capacitor also. Sometimes they are fairly hard to access and may even require the blower motor to be removed in order to test it.
Having your capacitors checked and replaced before they completely go out is something that needs to be checked on a routine basis.
#7 Compressor And Motor Amps
Your compressor and blower motors have nameplates that list the amps and volts the motors should be operating under.
By checking the Amps routinely you can catch small problems before they get big and expensive.
When your service provider has a detailed history of what the amperage of your motors was from the previous visits they will know if something is causing a problem if the amps are getting higher than normal.
#8 Refrigerant leaks
Checking for refrigerant leaks can save a compressor from overheating and prevent costly refrigerant from leaking into the atmosphere.
Some leaks in Slidell, LA A/C systems start as small leaks from a loose fitting or an aged and rusted section of the evaporator coil.
By catching the leak early, you may prevent your system from freezing up and further damaging your system.
#9 The Contactor
On a routine check of the A/C system, you need to check the contactor to make sure it’s not sticking, and prevent emergency a/c services.
Sticking can occur when the thermostat calls for cooling and the metal contacts are so damaged they overheat and stick together.
When they stick the condenser may keep running even when the inside has reached the set temperature inside. This can cause numerous problems and premature failure of the compressor.
#10 Checking Return And Supply Static pressure To Prevent Emergency A/C Services
Checking the return and supply static pressure will reveal a lot of information about your Slidell, LA HVAC system.
If your static pressure hasn’t been checked before it may reveal inadequate return air-flow. The return air is where the air flows through the filter and gets conditioned by the A/C system.
If your HVAC system has inadequate return airflow then another return air will need to be added to allow your system to operate to its full potential.
This isn’t 100% necessary. However, it is required if you want lower utility bills and to prevent excess wear and tear on your Slidell air conditioner and heater.
A static test may reveal the supply ducts are not large enough or they may be too large.
If your service provider is checking the static pressure often then you most likely already know if major issues exist.
By checking on a routine basis you will ensure the static numbers stay good by having a clean filter and system sized correctly and allowing the air to flow freely.
Have your system routinely maintained by a qualified professional.
DISCLAIMER!
* WARNING! This post and information on this website are for trained and certified technicians only. It is for educational purposes only. Under no circumstances should anyone who is not qualified or have the required permits or licensing attempt to use any information in this post to try and repair an HVAC or electrical system on their own. The opinions and methods I use are my opinions and I give no guarantee of any type of outcome. In other words, if you are not a trained and certified technician you should not attempt any repairs on your own. You should hire a licensed professional to do the work.
*Income & Affiliate Disclaimer. If you purchase a product or service from one of the links on this page you should assume I earn an affiliate commission. Meaning I earn money because you purchase through one of my links. You should also assume that by clicking on my links you may receive email communications from me.