Ask Danny | Ep. 5: Service Insights From an A/C Professional

On this week’s episode of “Ask Danny,” I’m speaking with third-generation A/C professional Josh Hembree, common supervisor of Hembree Heating & Air Conditioning in Cell, Ala.

About Josh

Born and raised in Cell, Josh moved away for a bit to earn a legislation diploma, however his entrepreneurial spirit and drive to proceed household legacies introduced him again to run the household enterprise.

Josh loves serving to individuals, from serving in his church to providing his group the perfect care the heating and air business has to supply.   

He’s been married to Kala for six years, they usually have a 4-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son. 

Why an A/C Isn’t Cooling

What frequent causes would trigger an A/C unit to not cool an area because it ought to?

Josh: There are a number of points that may trigger your system to not cool correctly. The most typical concern that we see is refrigerant cost points. 

If a system will get low on refrigerant, it’s going to battle to chill your private home. If cool air is transferring by means of your private home, nevertheless it’s not cooling your home down, it’s probably a refrigerant concern. 

Your system could also be low on refrigerant or there may very well be a leak, which might trigger all kinds of points, like a frozen condenser unit.

Discovering Leaks in Your System

What can a house owner do to find these leaks and the way ought to a house owner go about repairing them?

Josh: All ductwork programs leak to a certain degree, so the true query is how one can find and reduce these leaks.

The very first thing you need to do is a visible inspection of the duct system. It’s straightforward to do in the event you’re snug getting up in your attic, however in the event you’re not, name your native HVAC seller and have an A/C professional examine it. 

Past that, you possibly can flip your system on and really feel for cool air in your attic. Be sure that there aren’t any apparent kinks within the system, tears or any packing containers on the ductwork.

Watch: How to Repair Leaks in A/C Ductwork

A/C Dimension Issues

We inform our listeners on a regular basis that greater will not be at all times higher in the case of the scale of the A/C unit. Why is that such a difficulty?

Josh: Having a system that’s outsized is a foul thought, particularly in the event you stay in a high-humidity local weather. 

When your system is operating, it’s making an attempt to do two issues: alter the temperature and take away moisture from the air.

You probably have a system that’s outsized, it’s going to chill your private home quick — too quick, nevertheless. 

Eradicating the moisture takes longer than reducing the temperature. So as soon as the house reaches the set temperature, it should shut off earlier than it could correctly take away the moisture from the air. 

What you want is a variable pace system. These programs run at a decrease pace to correctly dehumidify the house to take away the moisture within the air in a manner single-speed programs can’t do. 

Learn: Air Conditioner Guide: From Maintenance to Buying New Systems

Mini-Break up A/C Programs

We’re listening to quite a bit about ductless mini-split programs. The place and when are they a good suggestion?

Josh: A ductless mini-split system is a central heating and cooling system that doesn’t use ductwork to distribute air all through the house. As a substitute, it’s designed for single areas.

They’re greatest used for sheds, garages, sunrooms, bonus rooms any house the place you may have one massive house as an alternative of a number of rooms.

If you wish to enclose part of your private home, probably, your present system will not be sufficiently big to cowl that sq. footage.

That system was designed to cowl the sq. footage of the house with out that house, so in the event you determine to run ductwork to that house, it may trigger issues throughout your private home. Because of this ductless mini-split programs are a fantastic possibility for add-ons and enclosures.

What Occurs on an A/C Service Name

I’ve at all times really useful to our listeners to have their A/C models serviced no less than yearly, if not twice by an expert. Are you able to inform our listeners what an A/C professional does for a service like this?

Josh: We name this preventative upkeep in your heating and cooling system. It’s mainly a check-up in your system, identical to going to the physician for an annual checkup. 

An HVAC technician does a top-down inspection of your cooling and heating system. The technician checks {the electrical} parts to verify the unit has correct voltage and the wiring is safe.

Additionally they clear the condenser coil, evaporator coil and condensate drain line so the system operates safely and extra effectively. 

We advocate twice a yr preventative upkeep. As soon as within the spring earlier than the warmth wave comes after which within the fall. 

A Cautionary Story

As residence service staff, A/C professionals are at all times going into individuals’s houses, so that you by no means fairly know what you’re going to get into.

Josh tells us this story as a reminder to at all times concentrate on our environment: 

Two of Josh’s HVAC technicians had been despatched to a service name, however the house owner wasn’t residence once they arrived. The house owner informed the technicians to only go forward and begin wanting on the out of doors unit within the yard. 

As they’re strolling to the again gate, they see an enormous canine. They’re a little bit nervous, however thought, “Properly, the house owner mentioned to go forward, so the canine shouldn’t be an issue.” 

After they entered the yard, the canine was weary and uncertain of the technicians, however fortunately it didn’t hurt them. 

A couple of minutes later, the house owner will get there and is shocked the canine didn’t chunk them. 

Seems, the house owner mistakenly thought he safely secured his overprotective canine earlier than the technicians had arrived. 

“It simply goes to indicate you need to at all times concentrate on your environment,” Josh says.

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