Why is Your Air Conditioner Leaking?

A dripping sound in the middle of the night is usually one of the first noticeable signs that something is wrong with your air conditioning system. Unfortunately, a leak is a common development and doesn't help narrow down what might be wrong with your HVAC system. The best short-term solution is to place a bowl lined with a towel under the source of the drip and call in an expert technician first thing in the morning. An unfixed leak can cause water damage the longer you let it drip, and it's usually a sign that your unit isn't draining or cooling properly.

What are some of the most common causes of a dripping air conditioner, and what can you do to solve it?

If your air conditioner is dripping, then the coils might be dirty. This might not be the singular cause behind the drip, but condenser coils pick up the dust, dander, and pet hair that circulate through your house and the coils aren't regularly cleaned. All of this debris acts a bit like insulation, and your machine has to work harder and harder around the obstruction, which can lead to a frozen coil and cause water to bypass the drain.

There are two ways to respond to this problem, and both steps are essential. The first is to get your HVAC system regularly serviced. A trained technician can clean the condenser coil as well as check the condensate line for clogs and the drain pans for cracks, which are the two most common causes for drips. Only when an expert checks and repairs your system can you rest assured that the problem has been solved for the season. The second step is to regularly replace your air filter. That air filter helps catch dust and debris in the air, and a lot of general repairs are caused by an air filter that isn't changed regularly.

If you have any questions or service requests, please feel free to contact us at Blackie's Heating and Air Conditioning.

3 Reasons Fall is the Perfect Time for Heating Installation

With winter around the corner, fall is the perfect time to consider having your heating system replaced. If you experienced any issues with your heater last year, having it replaced now could save you some stress in the coming months. If your furnace is in need of replacement, here are just a few of the reasons to consider having it replaced this fall.

It Will Ensure Your Comfort This Winter

If you experienced problems with your furnace last winter, and you were not as comfortable as you would like to have been, why suffer again this winter? Having your furnace replaced now will ensure the comfort of you and your family in the coming months, and it will prevent you from having to deal with furnace failure in the dead of winter.

Fall Installation Can Save You Money

If your furnace is aging then you will likely need to have it replaced in the near future. However, doing so in the fall can save you money compared to the cost of having your furnace replaced in winter. Fall, being between the busy HVAC seasons of summer and winter, is when you can find the best deals on HVAC systems. You may be surprised by how much you could save by having your system replaced in the off-season.

You Have the Convenience of Time

Fall is when you are least likely to need your HVAC system, which means that you will not be in the same hurry to have it replaced that you would be in if your system died in the dead of winter. This means that by having your system replaced in fall you can take your time to research HVAC installation companies, and you will be able to schedule to have your new system installed at a time that is convenient to you.

These factors make fall the best time to consider having your furnace, or your entire HVAC system, replaced. If you need your furnace replaced, contact Blackie’s Heating and Air Conditioning to schedule an appointment.

So Your Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit

One of the most common gas furnace problems is a pilot light that goes out only seconds after being lit. Not only is this frustrating, but since it can keep your furnace from starting up properly, it can be quite distressing as well. Fortunately, this problem is often relatively simple to overcome. This article will teach you how to troubleshoot a pilot light that keeps going out.

How a Pilot Light Works 

The whole idea of a pilot light is that it stays lit all the time. When working, this is the result of the accompanying component known as the thermocouple. The thermocouple senses the heat from the pilot and sends an electrical impulse to the gas valve, telling it to keep the pilot light’s gas flow open. Should the pilot light go out, the thermocouple will cool down and the gas valve leading to the pilot tube will close. This is a safety precaution used to prevent gas from leaking out into your home.

Override Button 

In order to light the pilot, the flow of gas must be restored once more. This is done by pressing a manual override button on the gas valve. This button allows gas to flow up the pilot tube, despite the fact that the thermocouple is not telling the valve to open.

The most common reason for a pilot light to sputter and go out after being lit is that the override button was not depressed for long enough. In other words, the thermocouple simply hasn’t had long enough to heat up. Next time you try lighting the pilot, continue to hold down the override button for ten or fifteen seconds. This will greatly increase the likelihood that your pilot stays going.

As always, please feel free to call Blackie's Heating and Air Conditioning with any questions and/or service needs you may have.