Water Leaks...Yuk!

When you think of water, you usually think of a soothing rain or a day at the beach or a beautiful waterfall.  When the water is overflowing or leaking from your air conditioning system it can be a nightmare.

A well installed air conditioning system will have the following characteristics:

• Emergency cut-off switches installed in the emergency drain pan and primary drain line.
• A primary drain that has constant fall and is routed to the nearest plumbing stack
• Blocking under the drain to prevent sag

If the drain cannot be run normally, a condensate pump is installed to pump water to a plumbing stack.  During the installation of a new system or regular maintenance, the technician will use compressed gas (usually Nitrogen) to "blow out" the drain and dislodge any blockage that may have formed.  If the drain cannot be cleared, it may be able to be replaced or a plumber will be recommended.

Regular maintenance, by the homeowner or a professional, usually includes some sort of fungicide applied to the pan or drain line.  This may be a solution of bleach and water poured down the drain line, a chlorine tablet or strip placed in the drain pan, or more recently vinegar.

If you have had a succession of drain problems you should ask a professional to pursue a more detailed analysis.  Cutting the PVC drain line at any low spot may show substantial accretions which may not respond to pressurization.  In this case, the drain may have to be replaced to the stack.

If the blockage is in the plumbing p-trap or in the vent stack itself a plumber may be necessary to dislodge the blockage and clear the pipe with a "rooter" type machine.

Save yourself problems and maintain your system regularly.  In the heat of the Summer, glance at your emergency pan to make sure it is dry.  Water in the drain pan is a sign of potential drain problems.

Need air conditioning service?  Surgi's can help.  Need a healthier, more comfortable life?  We can change the way you feel about your home. 

Call 469-4232 for a free estimate today!

While you are researching try the following articles on Surgi's website:

The Perfect Air Conditioning System

Your home could be losing over $2,000 a year in unnecessary utility bills due to a dirty, inefficient air conditioner.  That's a trip to Gatlinburg or a weekend in Destin or camp for the kids.

Put more fun in your life by having your high efficiency system cleaned twice a year for optimal performance.  Don't have a very efficient system?  Surgi's can install a new Trane high efficiency system for as little as $125 a month or receive an instant credit for up to $1,250.  Surgi's is now offering Free Replacement Estimates and Free Second Opinions on air conditioning repairs.

Call 469-4232 for a free estimate today!

Need a new system?  Surgi's can help.  Need a healthier, more comfortable life?  We can change the way you feel about your home.  

While you are researching try the following articles on Surgi's website:

The Perfect Air Conditioning System
Free Second Opinions

New Orleans Temperatures Nearing 90, Tune Your Air Conditioning Now

NOAA LONG-RANGE FORECAST JUNE-JULY-AUG 2013

Don't let a cool Spring fool you.  Hot weather is weeks away.  The NOAA forecast above predicts warmer than normal temperatures for the entire Summer

Everyone knows the importance of getting regular tune ups on their car in order to keep it running longer and stronger. However, not everyone knows that heating and cooling equipment also requires regular preventive maintenance. In fact, getting heating and cooling equipment cleaned and tuned up annually is one of the best ways to lower energy costs.

Don't let a cool Spring fool you.  Hot weather is weeks away.

Typically, air conditioners encounter problems when they are first turned on in the Spring or during the hottest days of the summer. These are the times when the units are under the most stress, and also the times when relied on the most. When a technician examines a unit during a tune up, he or she can identify potential future problems that could make the difference between keeping cool this summer or having the unit break down in the sweltering heat.

In the long run, an annual tune up will help prolong the life of equipment, which will help protect one of the biggest household investments. Having a service technician examine equipment on a regular basis is also an effective way to find and correct potential issues before they lead to other problems that could be time consuming and expensive to correct.

SCHEDULE A CLEAN & CHECK

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Regular tune ups ensure that air conditioners or heat pumps work as efficiently as possible. A clean, tuned up unit, is one of the best ways to keep energy costs down. If the unit is dirty, clogged, or needing repair, the unit works much harder than it should in order to achieve the desired outcome—and it may never keep homes as comfortable as a well-maintained system.

The Value Of Proper Maintenance

Five reasons your air conditioner won't work when you need it

Consumer Reports - Apr 11, 2013 2:00 PM

This month while some regions of the country are flirting with temperatures in the eighties others are still digging out from snow. But summer will be here all too soon so it's a good time to make sure your air conditioner is in working order before a real heat wave hits. Air conditioners fail because they're installed wrong, serviced poorly, or not maintained properly. Some problems you can fix yourself but others may take a call to a professional. Here are the five most common problems with air conditioners and how to troubleshoot them, according to the federal Department of Energy.

Refrigerant leaks. Air conditioners work most effectively and efficiently when the refrigerant charge exactly matches the manufacturer's specifications, and is neither undercharged or overcharged, according to the DOE. Leaks are another matter and in addition to making your system struggle, can be harmful to the environment. If your air conditioner leaks, adding more refrigerant won't fix it. You'll need a trained technician to fix the leak, test the repair and then charge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant.

Inadequate maintenance. Dirty filters and air conditioning coils can cause the machine to under perform. And overtaxing the unit can cause the compressor or fans to fail prematurely.

Electric control failure. The compressor and fan controls can wear out, especially when the air conditioner cycles on and off frequently, as is common when a system is oversized. Corroded wires and terminals can also be a problem in many systems, so have a professional check the electrical connections and contacts during a service call.

WATER LEAKS !!!

As the heat index climbs and air conditioning units work overtime, water leaks in poorly maintained units can occur causing extensive ceiling and floor damage.

Water leaks are caused by several conditions:  

• Dirty evaporator coils
• Dirty filters
• Dirty blowers
• Poorly charged air conditioners or heat pumps
• Clogged drain lines
• Evaporator coils freezing up
• Poor installation

Before the worst case happens, be safe:

• Poor a mild chlorine and water solution in your air conditioning drain line every few months.
• Check with your home improvement store for chlorine pan tablets.
• Invest in a semi-annual maintenance agreement.
• Install an overflow switch on the drain line of closet systems to turn the air conditioner off when the drain line stops up. 
• Install a float switch in the emergency overflow drain pan in attic systems.

 

Call Surgi's today at 469-4232 and ask about our Peak Performance Maintenance Agreement.  We're here to help.

Fantastic Return On Investment

Surgi's GOLD STAR SERVICE PLAN

HVAC system maintenance will more than pay for itself in the short term and save you lots of time and money in the long-run. Surgi's Heating and Air Conditioning understands their clients individual needs and has designed a maintenance plan that is sure to please everyone!

The Gold Standard Of Air Conditioning Maintenance

Benefits of the Gold Plan:

• Priority Scheduling
• 15% Discount on repairs, including labor
• No Overtime or Weekend charges
• Priority Service on down units
• 30 day no service call guarantee from maintenance visit
• 5% Discount on system purchases
• Next day installation system availability
• Exclusive Offers
• Peace of mind
• Reduces utility bills
• Extends equipment life
• Reduces major repairs
• 2 Maintenance visits per year
• Savings on multiple systems
• Savings on multiple year plans

If you are interested in a top-notch service plan that saves you money and gives you piece of mind then call Surgi's Heating and Air Conditioning at 469-4232 or email us at surgis@hotmail.com.