Category: Cooling

Why Is My Heat Pump Running Constantly? A Troubleshooting Guide

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

mounted heat pump

Heat pumps are great options for Charlotte, NC, homeowners. They offer energy-efficient heating or cooling for your home because they use the air surrounding your home to control the air inside your home.

Heat pumps are reliable and long-lasting, but they can raise questions for new users. One of the most common questions homeowners ask is, “why is my heat pump running constantly?” The expert professionals at Acosta are always ready to answer your questions.

If you are ready to speak with our skilled technicians about heat pumps, call [phone] or contact us online today!

Signs That Your Heat Pump Is Working Correctly

Sometimes your heat pump needs to run a lot to work. Here are signs that your heat pump is working correctly, even if it’s constantly running.

  • Fan is set to “On,” not “Auto”: When your heat pump is set to “Auto,” it turns itself off after it reaches the desired temperature. If your heat pump is set to “On,” it will run even after reaching the correct temperature.
  • Not reaching set temperature: If it is an especially cold or hot day, your heat pump will need to work harder to heat or cool your home. Because it doesn’t create warm or cold air but circulates the existing air through your home, it will continually run if it can’t reach the correct temperature.
  • Switching modes to retain temperature: Some heat pumps have an auto-reverse feature. This means it switches into the opposite mode to keep the temperature where it is set. The heat pump could sometimes switch between heating and cooling modes, resulting in it running constantly.

Troubleshooting Your Heat Pump

Here are some ways homeowners can troubleshoot their heat pump problems:

  • Check the air filter: Heat pumps use air filters just like traditional heating and cooling systems. If your heat pump air filter is clogged or dirty, the heat pump will continue running to try and push clean air through. Changing the air filter can immediately correct the problem.
  • Check the thermostat: If the thermostat is set too high (for heating) or too low (for cooling), the heat pump may need to work continuously. Try resetting the thermostat to a different temperature to see if it causes the heat pump to stop running.
  • Check doors and windows: If you have an open door or window, your heat pump could be fighting against drafts. Make sure you close doors and windows and see if it helps stop the constant running.
  • Check the outside unit: Debris or snow buildup around the outside unit of your heat pump could block the airflow. The heat pump will need to work harder to transfer air in and out of your home, causing it to run all the time.

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Signs It’s Time To Call for Professional Help

If your heat pump is constantly running, sometimes it’s time to call for professional help. Here are signs Charlotte homeowners should know:

  • Tripped circuit breakers: The circuit breakers in your home are there for your protection. If your heat pump regularly trips your circuit breakers, there is a reason. It’s best not to ignore it.
  • Refrigerant leak: If you notice leaking refrigerant seeping from your heat pump, something has gone wrong. A professional will be able to find and fix the issue.
  • Damaged compressor or coils: The mechanical parts of your heat pump need to be in good condition for the heat pump to work correctly. A damaged compressor or coils could cause your heat pump to work constantly.
  • Outdoor system isn’t running: If your indoor system is running, but your outdoor system is not, it may seem like the heat pump is constantly running. Your home will never reach your desired temperature because the two parts are not working together.
  • Blower relay switch problems: The relay switch in your heat pump motor controls the flow of electricity, which signals if the heat pump should turn on or off. If it malfunctions, the heat pump could run constantly.

Why You Should Call a Professional

It may be tempting for some homeowners to try and fix their heat pump on their own to save money. Unfortunately, that doesn’t often happen because homeowners cause more damage, resulting in more extensive and costly repairs.

A professional can diagnose and solve your heat pump issues quickly and efficiently. Additionally, a professional will make sure your heat pump is safe.

Choose Acosta for Heat Pump Services

If you need heat pump services for your Charlotte, NC, home, Acosta is ready to help. Our friendly professionals are highly trained, background-checked, and drug tested. We are the area leaders in delivering exceptional quality and service.

When you choose Acosta for your heat pump services, you choose it to be done right the first time.

Schedule your appointment today by calling [phone] or contacting us online!

Should I Keep My AC on “Auto” or “On”?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical
using a thermostat

hand on thermostat

In the battle for how you should set up the air conditioning in your Charlotte-area home, a new twist comes into play. With newer models of residential air conditioning systems, thermostats have become more advanced. Now, there are many different features you can have for your air conditioner, and they’re all programmed from your thermostat.

While some features may rely on personal preference, setting your thermostat to “auto” or “on” can be more structured. Read on to understand which option is suitable for your home — and why!

What’s the Difference Between “Auto” and “On”?

Before deciding if you should set your air conditioner to “auto” or “on,” it’s essential to understand the difference between the two settings. Both settings control the air conditioner fan but differ in when the fan operates.

When you set your air conditioner to “auto,” you restrict the fan to only run at certain times. The air conditioner thermostat evaluates the temperature in your home. When the temperature goes above the set temperature, the air conditioner starts a cooling cycle, and the fan automatically turns on, so it can help cool your home. Once your home reaches the desired temperature, the fan and the cycle stop.

On the other hand, when you set your air conditioner to “on,” you are telling your air conditioner always to run the fan, even when your air conditioner is not working to cool your home.

What Are the Benefits of “Auto” and “On”?

There are benefits to having your air conditioner set to “auto” and “on.” The benefits of the “auto” setting include higher efficiency, lower energy bills, better humidity control, less wear and tear on some components, and quieter running.

The “on” setting includes more even cooling, better air circulation and filtration, and less wear and tear from stopping and starting.

While there are many advantages to both “auto” and “on” settings, they also have disadvantages.

What Are the Disadvantages of “Auto” and “On”?

Sometimes, the disadvantages can give you a more straightforward choice between choosing the “auto” or “on” setting on your air conditioner. The drawbacks to the “auto” setting include hot and cool spots in your home, less air filtration, and the blower motor may wear out from the regular stopping and starting.

The disadvantages to the “on” setting include increased cooling costs, filter replacements needed more frequently, and may blow more regularly during summer to cool the air in ducts near attics or warmer areas.

Understanding if you should choose the “auto” setting or the “on” setting for your air conditioner comes down to the Charlotte climate.

The Setting You Should Choose

When choosing between setting your air conditioner to “auto” or “on,” our warm, humid climate should be the determining factor. The evaporator coils are what create the cool air in your home. They cool the air around them, and the fan blows that cool air through your ducts and into your home.

The high levels of moisture in our air can cause condensation to build up on the evaporator coils. Then, when the fan blows air across the coils and into your home, that condensation also blows into your home. This adds humidity to your home.

In a climate that is as humid as Charlotte, the added humidity can make your home more uncomfortable.

When you set your air conditioner to the “auto” setting, you reduce the amount of moisture your system blows back into your home. You’ll have a lower humidity level in your home, which will make your home feel cooler and more comfortable.

So, in the Charlotte area, choose the “auto” setting for your air conditioner to reduce the humidity and make your home as comfortable as possible during our hot summers!

Why Choosing a Programmable or Smart Thermostat Is a Good Idea

A programmable thermostat or smart thermostat gives you the flexibility you need to customize your air conditioning system and make your home comfortable for you. Since you’re setting your thermostat to “auto” to eliminate as much humidity from your home as possible, using a programmable thermostat or smart thermostat simply takes your air conditioner to the next level.

Programmable thermostats allow you to set your air conditioner based on time of day, day of the week, year’s season, and so much more. By customizing when your air conditioner will run, you can keep your home at a more consistent temperature.

Smart thermostats also let you change your air conditioner settings with your phone or other devices from anywhere in the world.

Now you can have precisely the settings you want on your air conditioner with the touch of a button!

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Choose Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you want to upgrade to a smart thermostat or have other air conditioning system needs, choose Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We have over 45 years of professional experience helping Charlotte-area homeowners stay cool and comfortable all year long.

For the best air conditioning installation, repair, and maintenance services, trust your home to Acosta’s team of experts. Our friendly and courteous professionals will do the job quickly and efficiently, delivering superior customer service.

Call 704.665.5998 or contact us online to schedule your HVAC appointment in Mecklenburg or Union County today!

More Air Conditioning & HVAC Resources

Is It Okay Run Your Air Conditioner All the Time?

Why You Should Schedule Routine AC Maintenance

The Possible Reason Your Home Has Uneven Cooling

That Leak Could Mean You Need Air Conditioning Repair

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

There could be more to your leaking air conditioner than just a pool of water. Not only could you end up with mold or water damage, but you could also be running an inefficient cooling system that is costing you money in the long run. There are a couple of common reasons that your air conditioner is leaking, however, and our professionals at Acosta Heating and Cooling can provide the solutions you need.

When we arrive for air conditioning repair services at your home or business in Charlotte, North Carolina, we’ll check for these two common repair items and provide the necessary fixes:

Condensate Problems – Not only does your air conditioner cool the air inside your home or business, but it also removes humidity. Typically, any condensation is removed from your system without issue, but if not, an air conditioning repair could be in order. Repair solutions for this problem include:

  • Checking your condensate drain pain for damage and replacing it
  • Clearing blockages in your condensate drain and replacing the water line, if needed
  • Repairing or replacing a broken condensate pump to keep water moving properly

Frozen Evaporator Coils – If ice forms on your evaporator coils, this could lead to melting and overflow from your drain pan. Our air conditioning repair solutions for this problem include:

  • Cleaning or replacing your filter so there is better airflow through your coils.
  • Adding refrigerant so that you have enough pressure for your coils to properly remove heat from the air. We’ll also check for refrigerant leaks in your AC unit.
  • Checking your fan for low airflow through the coil and providing the necessary repair.

At Acosta Heating and Cooling, we know how much you rely on your air conditioner from day-to-day in Charlotte, so make sure to give us a call if you need air conditioning repair at your home or business in Charlotte.

Leaks and Air Conditioning Repair in Charlotte, NC

Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical is a full service heating, cooling, and electrical company dedicated to providing the highest level of customer satisfaction in the greater Charlotte area. Since 1972, we’ve provided professional AC repairs, maintenance, and installations for Charlotte residents. If you need professional AC repairs in Charlotte, call Acosta today!

Air Conditioners: Choosing the Right Size for Your Home

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Choosing an Air Conditioner Size in Charlotte, NC

When it comes to air conditioners, a bigger system won’t necessarily cool your home any better than a smaller one. Generally speaking, the size you need all comes down to the cooling power your home requires and how big your home is. One of the best ways, however, to pick the right system as you go through your options for air conditioners is to choose a system with the right BTUs, or British Thermal Unit.

The BTU rating is a figure that lets you know how quickly and effectively an air conditioner can cool a particular room. For most air conditioners, BTU ratings range from 5,000 to more than 20,000. Keep in mind that a unit that’s oversized for a small space will cycle on and off and waste energy, while a unit with too few BTUs will struggle to cool the space effectively.

There are several factors you should consider as you think about what BTU rating your new system needs, such as location, the climate where you live, sun exposure, and ceiling height. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

  • If the room you want to cool receives significant sunlight during the day, go with a unit with 10% more BTUs than the size the room requires.
  • If you’re picking a new unit for your kitchen, go with a system that has an additional 4,000 BTUs than is needed for the room size.
  • For rooms that usually have more than two people in them, go for a unit with an additional 600 BTUs per person.

If you want more tips on picking the right air conditioner size, give us a call! We’re always more than happy to help.

You Can’t Go Wrong With These Central Air Conditioning Maintenance Tips

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Air Conditioning Maintenance Tips for Your Charlotte, NC Home

Your central air conditioning system keeps your home cool all summer long — or at least that’s what you want it to do. If you want to avoid a situation where your central air conditioning system stops working like it should or stops working altogether, we highly recommend following these maintenance guidelines:

  • The most important thing you can do for your central air conditioning system is to replace its filters on a regular basis. Clogged, dirty filters prevent clean, cool air from flowing through your home effectively, and they compromise your system’s efficiency. Your air conditioning filters are likely located somewhere in a wall or ceiling, so locate them and commit to changing them out on a frequent basis.
  • Over months and years of service, your AC system’s evaporator coils and condenser coil are going to collect dirt and debris, which can cut back on your system’s effectiveness. Prevent these essential coils from becoming too dusty or dirty by cleaning the area around these coils, removing debris from this area and trimming back any foliage that may have gotten in the way.

Instead of worrying about whether something’s going to go wrong with your central air conditioning system, be proactive about repairs by investing in preventative maintenance. Here at Acosta Heating and Cooling, we provide preventative maintenance programs, and a technician from our team can come to your home and inspect your system. They will also let you know if there are repairs you should watch out for or if you should have them done right away, so your system maintains its functionality and efficiency.

HVAC Repair vs. Coca-Cola 600

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

You, and probably many of your friends, are anxiously looking forward to the 58th running of the Coca-Cola 600 at the end of May. The pre-race show is set to honor Memorial Day and our military heroes so it should be an incredible event. The last thing you want to do is miss it because of a costly HVAC repair. About now you are also probably getting close to turning on the air conditioning, if you haven’t already, and one thing that you should be thinking about is having maintenance done on it to be sure it is operating properly.

Not only can a costly HVAC repair often be avoided with regular maintenance, but having your system tuned will save on your utility bill, as well. After all, you want the cars at Charlotte Motor Speedway to be doing the racing– not your electric meter. The utility saving may not be enough to cover the cost of the tickets to the race, but it could cover a beverage or two.

HVAC Repair in Concord, NC

At Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical, we’re excited about the big race, too, and we want to do our part so that you can avoid HVAC repair. If you do end up needing HVAC repair, however, you can count on us to keep it reasonable for you. We’ve served the area since 1972 in part because we take care of your home like it was our very own. We also offer service plans, so you can stay on top of keeping your HVAC equipment in peak performance all year long. After all, there are plenty more races later in the year, too!

“Fiscal Cliff” Averted; HVAC and Water Heating Tax Credits Extended

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Good news for tax payers in Charlotte, North Carolina!

Aimed at averting the “fiscal cliff,” the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) has extended numerous energy-efficiency and renewable energy deductions and credits for another year—and that means more savings for you! Energy tax credits from 2011 that expired on January 1, 2012 have been extended to December 31, 2013. Because these tax credits were reinstated retroactively, they can be used on any qualifying equipment installed after December 31, 2011. Any eligible taxpayer (homeowner) can claim a tax credit of up to $500 in qualifying HVAC and water heating equipment. Of course, there are a few limitations. Here are some of the details:

Water Heaters (Tax Credit: $300)

Electric heat pump, propane, natural gas, and oil water heaters may qualify.     Minimum standards apply on the energy factor and the thermal efficiency of the water heater.

Furnaces (Tax Credit: $150)

Propane, natural gas, or oil furnaces may qualify.     Minimum standards apply on the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) of the furnace.

Boilers (Tax Credit: $150)

Propane, natural gas, or oil boilers may qualify.     Minimum standards apply on the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) of the boiler.

Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps (Tax Credit: $300)

Split-system central air conditioners, packaged central air conditioners, split-system electric heat pumps, and packaged electric heat pumps may qualify.     Minimum standards apply on the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio), EER (energy efficiency ratio), and HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor) of the air conditioner or heat pump.

Advanced Main Air Circulating Fans (Tax Credit: $50)

Propane, natural gas, or oil furnace fans may qualify as long as they have a maximum annual electricity use of 2% of the total energy of the furnace.

Details about qualifying equipment can be found in Section 25C of the IRC (Internal Revenue Code). If you already have some of the above-mentioned equipment in your home, don’t forget to claim your tax credits! Consult your tax advisor for additional details and instructions about the 25C tax credit extension.

On the other hand, if you haven’t upgraded your air conditioning and heating system yet, now is the time to do so. If you would like to take advantage of both the energy savings and the $500 tax credit, contact a qualified HVAC company to learn more about product eligibility. Residents of Charlotte, North Carolina can call Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical at [phone]for more information.

Is Air Conditioning Repair Really Something to Get So “Heated Up” Over?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Anyone who has experienced a problem requiring air conditioning repair, residential or commercial, during the more brutal months of the summer knows how frustrating and uncomfortable it can be. Whether or not you have had this awful experience, everyone dreads the day when either the vents stop blowing cool air or stop blowing air at all. But is the situation really so terrible as to warrant such feelings? The answer is: sometimes but not always! Here is a list of some of the more common problems associated with air conditioning repair, and it turns out not all of them are indeed so dire. Problems do, however, usually require the attention of a qualified technician.

A large portion of problems requiring air conditioning repair start at the initial installation of the air conditioner. The air conditioner is a complex machine combining several mechanical and chemical processes to function correctly, and therefore, it is no surprise that errors are possible during installation. Faulty wiring is one of the more common mistakes and can be dangerous as well as inconvenient. If your air conditioner stops turning on, the fault could lie in the wiring. For this reason, it is important to make sure to have a competent and qualified air conditioning repair technician service your system.

Bad wiring is undoubtedly bad, but another reason your air conditioner may have stopped turning on could be due to a problem with the compressor; and these problems can quickly become much more expensive. The compressor is one of the main components of your air conditioning system. You can help prevent restriction problems with the compressor by regularly cleaning the air filter, which, if clogged, can put a huge strain on the whole air conditioning system.

If your vents are blowing air, but the air is either not cooled sufficiently or not at all, the culprit is very possibly the coolant. Freon (prior to 2010) is the chemical usually used to cool the air going into a structure; if you are low on Freon, the air will not be cooled as you wish. However, a low level of coolant means you have a leak, which, while usually not the most serious of problems requiring a repair, must certainly be attended to by a qualified air conditioning technician.

Heating and Cooling Filters Never Get a Break – Change Them Every 3 Months

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

The performance of your heating and cooling system is greatly affected by the condition of the air filters. As air flows in and out of your system, the filter traps particles like pet dander, pollen, dust mites and dirt, and removes them from the air. Over time, dirt builds up on the filter like this:

Dirty, clogged filters block normal air flow and affect overall performance, but they also increase energy consumption. If you keep the filter in your heating and cooling system clean, you can reduce its energy consumption by 5-15 percent.

Dirty filters also:

  • Compromise the quality of your air.
  • Reduce the amount of air flowing into the system. This forces the fan motor to work harder and consume more energy, and you pay more money to stay comfortable.
  • Shorten the life of the motor because it works too hard. Once again, you pay money to have it prematurely replaced.
  • Cause the temperature of your furnace to rise as a result of reduced air flow. This places stress on the heat exchanger which may cause it to crack or allow lethal carbon monoxide to leak into your home.Filters should be checked every month. If they are dirty, replace them. At a minimum, air filters should be changed every 3 months.Many types of air filters are available. For your heating and cooling system to provide optimal performance, it’s important to use the correct type and size of filter. Often, the most efficient filters are not suitable for all systems. See which type of filter your owner’s manual recommends.