Category: My Blog

Where to Buy Air Conditioner Capacitor?

Your air conditioner is composed of many components that make it efficient, safe, and function properly. One of the most essential part is the capacitor. It is a cylindrical object that provides power in the system, especially to devices on startup. Some problems you might encounter with your air conditioner is probably caused by a bad capacitor. To help you replace it, you have to find one that matches your system. Here are some places where you can find a capacitor.

Local HVAC Store

Probably, HVAC stores near you will have what you need. Tell them the specifics they will be able to help you most of the time. If due to some unexpected problem, what you are looking for is not available, there are still other places to look.

Online HVAC Stores

 You may browse catalogs on the internet on HVAC store sites. Verify if it is exactly what you need. You may also check reviews and stars given by other customers. It will be convenient to purchase online, but you have to wait for a while.

To make sure you are buying the best capacitor for your system, there are many things to consider.

Capacitor Type

There are two types of capacitors you can find in your air conditioner. The run capacitor powers the system while it is turned on. The start capacitor gives a boost to some devices like the fan, compressor, or others. Take a look at where the connection from the capacitor leads. Check the terminal your capacitor is connected in, that is also information you must have.

Capacitor Shape

 While most of the capacitors are cylindrical, some might still vary depending on your air conditioner type, model, or brand. Make sure you purchase one that is identical to your old capacitor.

Capacitor Voltage

 The capacitor voltage is critical to your system. Take note of that one because it is essential to get a capacitor with the same voltage range capacity. Most of the time, you can find this printed on the side of the capacitor cover. It is also on your owner’s manual, so be sure to keep those in case needed.

Capacitance Value

Another piece of information you have to keep is the capacitance value. This one is also printed on your capacitor. A run capacitor will have a different value than a start capacitor. It is measured in micro Farads, sometimes expressed as μf or MFD. Find a capacitor that has an identical capacitance value to your old one. 

When looking for a capacitor, make sure you will get the right one that matches your system, to avoid other problems. A bad capacitor is easy to fix yourself, after all. You will only have to pay for the capacitor.

If you are not confident with doing the work on your own, contact a licensed expert to do it for you. You may also check if your unit is still under warranty, or if you have a plan with your HVAC contractor. Repairs and replacements will be easy if you have someone for help! 

What Service Should Be Done On Home Air Conditioners and Furnaces?

Making plans for regular service with your HVAC contractor will benefit your air conditioner and furnace. It will increase the chance of your technician catching the small problems before it gets big. Tiny repairs won’t cost as much as service calls. It will also help maintain your units and make sure they work perfectly.

Here are the essential services your contractor might offer:

Check-up 

 Your contractor should check up parts of your air conditioner and furnace to know if they are in good condition. They have to make sure that the air and blower filters are free of dust, fur, or other things that may obstruct airflow; it can happen at least once every 30 days. 

 Coils also gather some dirt, dust, or debris once in a while. The evaporator coil may even get covered by ice, while the condenser coil is exposed outside. It can get blocked because of leaves and foliage. Examining this will also help your air conditioner and furnace greatly. 

 Chimneys and vents should also get checked to know if enough air is circulating in the system. Your technician has to examine if the ductwork is properly insulated or if the pipe joints are connected. Condensate drains also need some inspection once in a while to make sure it is free of any obstruction.

 Thermostats, motors, breakers, and other electrical components also have to get checked occasionally. Some problems you may have with your unit might be because of broken fuses or capacitors.

 Another good thing to check is the refrigerant level. It will go down after a long time of use, and your air conditioner might not be able to cool the air enough. Regular check-ups will also reveal if there are any leaks with the system.

Cleaning

Your HVAC contractor should also offer some cleaning services for components like the air or blower filter, condenser coil, evaporator coil, and others that may require cleaning after some time of use. The parts of your unit should be free of blockages to get the proper airflow and work efficiently. If all are good, you will consume less energy and spend less on electricity bills.

Repair and Replacement

To preserve or prolong the outstanding performance your air conditioner and furnace gives you, some parts that may malfunction need repair or replacement. Even if you take good care of your units, components may get worn out. Compared to emergency repairs, it will save you a lot if you have planned services with your contractor. Some extra fees might be required if the part that needs repair is a complex one. Replacing the compressor may also add some additional costs since it is quite expensive.

Inspection

After making repairs or replacements with your air conditioner or furnace, your technician should inspect if everything works fine before letting you use your unit again.

Do not hesitate to make service plans with your HVAC contractor to be saved from emergency repair costs! Contact one now to make sure your units always work in the perfect condition!

How to Manually Turn On An AC Unit

Technological advancements are made throughout the past years, and it only made our daily lives easier and better. As an example, remote controllers are made to make it easier for us to operate devices and even household appliances. You can even turn an air conditioning unit using a remote. 

As usual, people usually tend to misplace things such as keys, ball pens, and cards. But what if you misplaced your remote controller? Imagine if you’re in the middle of a hot, humid afternoon, and suddenly, your remote is gone! It would surely make you lose your temper and make you hot-headed. But don’t panic, take a deep breath and relax. There are always different ways to do some things, and this time, you can do it manually. 

If you’ve never tried to read or even touch your manual, this is the perfect time for you to do it. User’s manuals are often filled with information that you need and answer the questions in your mind. You can even find ways here on how you can operate your air conditioning unit manually. But what if you misplaced it too? Don’t worry, I got you. Here are some tips on how you can turn on operate your air conditioner manually:

Find the Power Button

In turning on any device or household equipment and appliances, the first thing you should do is to find the unit’s power button. Usually, different models and brands of air conditioners might have different power button placements, too. If you have your manual, you can easily locate it by looking at the diagram showing the unit’s different parts. But if you don’t, try finding it on your own. The usual areas are somewhere near the thermostat, on the sides of the unit, somewhere at the lower right corner, or in some cases, behind the front grille. This is essential for turning the unit on and off.

Reset the Unit

If you happen to set the unit’s timer using the remote and can’t control it manually anymore, you can always try resetting the unit once the timer is up and the unit shuts down. Usually, all you have to do is to unplug the unit and head for your circuit breaker. Turn it off and wait for 30 seconds. Do this and you’re good to go.

In some models or units, it has a built-in reset button. You can use this, unplug the unit and wait for 30 minutes before turning it back on again.

Download Remote Controller Apps

If none of the tips above does the job for you and you want to use your remote controller so bad but you have yet to buy another one, then you should want to start downloading and trying some remote controller apps on your mobile device. Millions of these are available on Google Play or App Store. Try to find the ones that are working. If you find this convenient, you can use this to turn your unit on and off. You can use this temporarily before buying a new remote.

If none of the tips above worked for you, then it might indicate that a lost remote isn’t the only problem of your unit. You can always try to call for diagnostics for this matter. Nonetheless, we hope we’ve helped! Good luck with operating your unit manually.

Air Conditioner Turns On and Off Right Away

It might give you a shock if your air conditioner short cycles or turns on and off repeatedly, especially during a hot summer day. It is best to shut your unit off entirely to avoid causing more damage, don’t force it to work because there might be a problem. Calm down and do not panic, because here are the reasons to help give you some ideas and solutions.

Parts Need Cleaning

Some parts, like the air filter, evaporator coil, and condenser, need regular checking and cleaning. Clogged up dirt, dust, or debris will reduce efficiency and airflow, causing the unit to short cycle. Make sure to inspect these parts once or twice a month and to clean them as needed. Inspect them and make your unit run again after cleaning.

Electrical Problems

Some electrical parts of your air conditioner might be having trouble. It might be a malfunction with the circuit board, electrical connections, wirings, or others. A common problem would be a capacitor. It is essential to the unit for it provides a boost of power to the components and to keep them running, so a bad capacitor will most likely cause it to turn off and back on. An electrical problem is hard to diagnose and solve unless you are a professional, call your HVAC contractor or technician to aid you.

Component Malfunction

Parts may overheat, fail, or malfunction. An example is the compressor. Over time, it might not be as good as it did before and cause short cycles, and may need repair or replacement. It is always good to take care of the malfunctioning part before it does more damage to the system. Contact a licensed professional to help out because a compressor is hard to repair and would require replacement, most of the time. That can be quite costly, but it is good if a warranty or plan will cover it.

Refrigerant Levels

 Long term use will cause refrigerant levels to go down and cause short cycling. A simple recharge from your HVAC technician is good. However, refrigerant levels may also go down because of a leak. Modern air conditioners have sensors to detect those and shut the system off before the problem gets serious. A refrigerant leak is dangerous so do not attempt to turn it on again and call your HVAC contractor to solve the problem.

Unit is in the Wrong Size

An air conditioner too large for your HVAC system will eventually turn off after it cools your home quickly. This might result in uneven cooling in your house and make the unit turn on again. It might cause your unit to have a short life span and consume more energy than necessary. Make sure that when installing a new air conditioner, choose the one that will perfectly suit your system.

Many of these problems may be avoided if you have a service plan with your HVAC contractor. Do not be afraid to contact one if you think your air conditioner malfunctions. 

How Often Should Air Conditioner Be Serviced?

Air-conditioners are essential to keep our homes comfortable. It dehumidifies the air, and keeps it chilled when it is hot outside. The unit also purifies the air to get rid of impurities, smoke, dust, and odors. 

Today’s air-conditioners are the most efficient and power-saving compared to older models, but like other appliances, it may break down once in a while. It also needs to be taken care of according to its needs. It has to be maintained, cleaned, and inspected at regular intervals.

Importance

The first reason is to make sure that your air conditioner is working at its best. Your unit loses 5% of its efficiency every year, and surely, you do not want that. With regular maintenance, you can recover most of it. 

Maintenance will also get rid of the existing small problems in your unit that might turn into bigger ones if left unchecked. It will cost you more to repair those in your air-conditioner, though you can avoid those with inspection.

If your unit is maintained properly, it will work continuously and will be available to make your home comfortable in the months you need it the most. Your air-conditioner will also last for a long time, and you would not have to replace it until 12 to 15 years later. It may even last longer than that! 

Taking care of your unit should be of importance if you want lower electricity bills and air-conditioner repair costs. 

How Frequent

At least a once a year inspection will be good for your air-conditioner if you do not suspect any problem with it. However, some components might get dirty, which will reduce its efficiency. Try to check the air filter. Ideally, it should be cleaned or changed every month. You may also check the condenser if it has some dirt or debris.

You may check your unit yourself and clean the parts you can. Just make sure to consult your owner’s manual to avoid making more damage. You may also contact your HVAC contractor to sign up for their annual inspecting or cleaning services to save more. 

How Much

If you do not have plans with your contractor, a diagnostic test or inspection would cost about $80 to $100. Annual service costs will range from $150 to $300, with additional fees if some parts of your air-conditioner need replacement. 

These are just estimates, and you may still get lower prices if you know your contractor. If not, do some research and ask several companies to know how much it might cost. Remember that an annual service will require less money than what you might spend for emergency repairs, if ever your unit malfunctions unexpectedly. It is better to avoid problems that your air-conditioner might bring than to take care of them later. It will save you both money and time. 

A yearly inspection and maintenance should be in place for your air-conditioner. This is to make sure that it will work perfectly, especially at a time you need it the most.

Dispatch Tree Manager Pro Review

Dispatch Tree Manager Pro is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software package by the same name. This review examines its capabilities and how it can be used to better the efficiency of a large business organization.

Tree trimming

There are several common tasks that may be performed on an ERP system. These tasks include creating and managing customers, workers, products, and other resources, and upgrading and expanding the systems to deliver more information, to clients and partners. Of course, each of these systems may need to be managed separately.

However, there may be cases where users may not always need to know the core functions of each system that they use. This is the situation with Dispatch Tree Manager Pro.

In this case, users can manage data for a particular system without having to worry about having to know the details of the management tool. The software was designed with this in mind. It allows for users to use a system-wide view, or a special module that allows them to access their own data.

In terms of features, Dispatch Tree Manager Pro provides for a wide range of different options. There are features for managing user-defined projects, changes to the data, and data tuning. Users can also use the software to install reports and build dashboards.

A more detailed look at the features of the product will help users understand how well the software does in comparison to other systems. These include:

Time and attendance. It can be used to create projects for employees to complete. For example, the payroll department could use the software to create project profiles, such as project timelines and resource requirements. The system would be able to compare these with employee requests.

Customer project management. This allows the system to provide input and output functions to help organizations manage projects for clients and partners. For example, it could be used to track results and schedule daily updates for clients to take advantage of.

Resource mapping. It allows employees to map their resources, such as their contacts and operations centers, into areas that correspond to areas of management. This allows for better management of the resources that employees use, as well as managers who oversee the tasks that employees perform.

Inventory. By using this system, the inventory for a particular company can be organized and tracked, and used to generate reports and to access inventory lists. It can also provide inventory plans for services and products that can be used to set policies and guidelines for using resources.

Manage team member performance. In addition to performing tasks that they were assigned to do, team members are usually required to do many other tasks as well. As a result, it is important to have a way to create and manage assignments and tasks to employees, which can be used in the Dispatch Tree Manager Pro.

The system in Dispatch Tree Manager Pro provides a full suite of tools that allow for easier and more efficient operations. This includes templates for projects, task management, and reporting. It also includes data analysis and customization options.