Touchstone Heating & Air Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Lake City’

How AC Refrigerant Coils Work—And How They Can Go Wrong

Monday, June 27th, 2022
air-conditioner-evaporator-coil

An air conditioning system has many different parts that combine together to provide cool comfort for a house. The part of an AC that does the direct cooling of the air is the evaporator coil, which works in conjunction with a second coil, the condenser coil, to allow for the heat exchange process that’s at the core of how an air conditioning system works.

Today, we’re going to look closer at how these coils work, as well as how they may end up requiring professional AC repair in Lake City, FL.

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It’s Spring—And That Means It’s the Season for an AC Tune-Up!

Monday, April 4th, 2022
AC-plastic-grate

No matter where you live, one of the best parts about spring is seeing the days lengthen, the flowers bloom, and the weather get warmer. At the same time, homeowners understand that spring is also a time to consider routine maintenance around the house. Many of us look at our homes to see if they need work, such as loose shingles, peeling paint, damaged windows, or clogged gutters.

But what about our HVAC system? For too many of us, the air conditioner is an unseen force that keeps us comfortable in the summer months. Nonetheless, an HVAC system also needs maintenance. Let’s look at the benefits of AC maintenance in Lake City, FL.

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The Big Heat Pump Question: Is It a Good Spring Replacement for Your Current HVAC System?

Monday, March 21st, 2022
sun-and-snowflake-badge

Every year as spring rolls around, many homeowners are faced with an important question: is their HVAC system still meeting their needs? Maybe the heater struggled during the winter, even with our warm Florida climate. Or it could be that last summer was extremely hot, inside and out, because the air conditioner quit working well. Either way, many customers will ask themselves if they should simply replace their HVAC system with something similar, or switch to a heat pump. For most people, the best time to switch is during the spring.

Let’s look at why you should, or should not, consider heat pump installation in Lake City, FL.

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Undersized and Oversized: Why a New AC Must Be Right in the Middle

Monday, December 27th, 2021
air-conditioning-condenser-against-white-background

It’s in the middle of summer, and the sun is convincingly scorching as you look at it through the window from the comfort of your house. It’s unfortunate if your AC breaks down during this period, leaving you with no options but to cool yourself with a fan and bucket-loads of ice.

But this is a temporary solution. You need a permanent fix, and you can only achieve this once you understand why your AC keeps breaking down.

AC malfunction is a shared problem for most Americans. Fortunately, the problem is easy to solve, as it’s usually associated with installing the wrong-sized AC in your home.  

Touchstone takes pride in customer satisfaction and services that include AC replacement in Lake City, FL.

Here are some other reasons why having the wrong sized AC is a problem.

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Can My Air Conditioner Rust?

Monday, November 15th, 2021
old-ac-unit

Anything made of ferrous metal can potentially rust, and that includes your air conditioning system. Is this a common occurrence that you should worry about? And how would rust start to develop on an AC in the first place? We’ll get into that below, as well as help you know when you should call our team for AC repair in Lake City, FL.

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Failed Capacitors in Your AC: What’s Wrong, How to Fix It

Monday, November 1st, 2021
Air-conditioner-repairman

After a long summer and fall of hard work keeping your home cool, your air conditioning system may start to run into trouble due to wear and tear. This is one of the hazards of living in a place with such a warm climate where ACs don’t get a long break during the winter. We have to be extra vigilant of how our air conditioning systems operate to catch potential trouble they may have between their regular maintenance visits in the spring. 

One common trouble that ACs encounter after working through hot weather is with capacitors. Failed capacitors will bring an air conditioner to a halt. Below we’re going to talk more about capacitors, how to tell if they are failing/have failed, and what to do about it.

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If the AC’s Compressor Fails, Do I Need to Get a New AC?

Monday, October 18th, 2021
compressor-in-ac-unit

You may have heard that a failed compressor in a central air conditioning system means the whole system needs to be replaced. Compressors are critical for an AC’s operation—they’re responsible for circulating refrigerant and putting it under pressure so it can move heat out of the home and cool the air. Compressors are also large and powerful components that are expensive to replace. Since compressors often fail in older AC’s, it makes sense to replace the AC rather than pay just to replace the compressor.

However, a failed compressor doesn’t automatically mean a central air conditioner must be replaced. Not in all situations. Below we’ll look at four different outcomes for a failed compressor. This can help you make the choice about whether to have an AC replacement or an air conditioning repair in Lake City, FL, but please consult with our HVAC professionals to help you make the final decision.

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Is Late Summer Too Late for AC Maintenance? No!

Monday, August 23rd, 2021
ac-technician-washing-unit

Did you forget to have maintenance done for your home’s air conditioning system in the spring? You may think that if you missed that window, you might as well skip it for the rest of the year. After all, it’s late summer, and if the air conditioner has already gotten this far… 

We’re glad we’re here to stop that train of thought before you put off AC maintenance for a whole year. It’s late summer, but that doesn’t mean AC maintenance is a dead issue for the year. What might end up dead is your air conditioner, and far earlier than you expect, if you let maintenance slide. Spring is the best time to have a professional tune-up and inspect your air conditioner because it prepares it for the entire warm season, but if you get it done later it’s much better than never. 

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Ways to Tell Your AC Is on the Way Out…

Monday, August 9th, 2021
old-ac-unit

We’re now in the second half of the summer, and your home’s AC has put in an enormous amount of work already cooling down the house. It still has a ways to go too, since the Florida summer heat can last long into fall. You shouldn’t have too much to worry about when it comes to your AC, provided you arranged for routine maintenance at the start of the year. ACs are designed to last for many years against extremely hot conditions.

Of course, no AC is designed to last forever. At this point in the summer season, you may detect signs that your air conditioning system is beginning to fail—headed for a last breakdown that will require you to schedule an AC replacement in Lake City, FL. The best way to avoid getting trapped with a failed AC is to pay attention to the warnings the system is on the way out. Below we’ve listed a few major signs.

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Does My AC Have a Cooling Limit?

Monday, May 3rd, 2021

sun-and-snowflake-badgeYour house is getting warm on a hot day, so you set the thermostat to switch on the air conditioning system. Soon, your house begins to feel comfortably cool, and the AC runs for as long as necessary. 

At least, this is home cooling is supposed to work. If your air conditioning in Lake City, FL was professionally installed so it has the right cooling output to provide comfort to your house, then you can expect to have few problems staying cool during the summer. 

But you might wonder if there’s an upper limit to your air conditioning system, a level of heat that it can’t beat. You look at the thermostat and see the lowest setting is 60°F, which is pretty cold and not a temperature you’d normally want to be at during the summer. But it does make it seem like the AC can always get the house down to that low a temperature if necessary.

It’s not true, however. Yes, your AC has a cooling limit because of its temperature differential. Understanding this can help you better manage settings for the air conditioner during the summer.

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