Heating and Air Conditioning Repairs in O'Fallon, MO

Heating and air conditioning repairs are commonly faulty wiring issues, air ducts or faulty motors. These are some of the most common issues found in numerous homes. With our years of experience, we can often diagnose and fix the problem on the spot. Especially in the hotter areas, air conditioners tend to fail when you need them most. When your heating and air system fails it is restricting the actual cool air being generated from the unit into the home. Maybe your air conditioner is just not turning on, or it is making a strange noise, either way, call to have one of our expert repair technicians diagnose the problem with your heating and air conditioning system.

Sierra Mechanical: 636-240-8383

Why Air Conditioners Leak Water

An air conditioners primary job is to remove moisture from the room to give you a feeling of comfort. During this process they capture a lot of water. How much, is dependent upon humidity content of the air, size of the air conditioner, its operating efficiency, and whether it was properly installed. The water captured during normal operation flows down the cooling coil and drops into the base, following channels or passages to the rear. Some of the water is lifted up by the fan blade and used to cool the heating coil, while most of it proceeds to the rear where it drops out of the base and onto the ground. That is, if everything is working perfectly. The reality of window air conditioners is that they can leak water.

The source of the leak can be allusive, appearing to come from multiple places, or only happen sporadically. Whichever the case, an air conditioner that leaks can drive you crazy trying to find the cause of the problem.

The following are a few suggestions of the most common reasons why water leakage occurs.

1. Improperly installed. A window air conditioner must be installed so that it's slightly lower at the rear than the front. This allows the water being removed from the room to drain to the back of the machine. A difference of one inch is sufficient. This is always the first thing to check. Many are improperly installed in the haste to get relief from the heat. If installed too low at front the water will flow into the room rather than outside. If installed too low at rear, water can roll out the front edges before it has a chance to exit towards the rear drain.
2. Icing up. Water being de-humidified from the room air can turn to ice if there are problems with the cooling system. There are many reasons for an air conditioner to produce ice. Remove front grille while machine is operating. If ice is present on the cooling coil you will probably need service. For more information about icing up see our article, ' Why window Air Conditioners Ice up'.
3. Air leakage around air conditioner. If warm air from outdoors is able to enter around the air conditioner it will encounter cooler, dryer air. When they meet condensation will occur. If water is leaking from front of air conditioner inspect area to see if dripping from body of machine, or water droplets clinging to front area. To test, operate machine for 30 minutes and then use flashlight to check under front edge of base. Small water droplets here indicate an air leakage problem. Add foam insulation to stop warm air from infiltrating.
4. Drain hole blocked. The rear of air conditioner base has a drain hole or notch to allow water to escape. If it becomes blocked water can back up. To test, operate machine for 30 minutes and then inspect if draining properly at rear. The base should contain a substantial amount of water, but not to the point where the whole base is completely full of water. If appears blocked use a small piece of wood (a popsicle stick or wooden skewer works well) to open drain hole at rear of metal base. CAUTION: Never be tempted to drill holes into the air conditioner body to relieve water pooling. Severe damage can result.
5. Internal drains blocked. There are small passageways that allow water to drain from front of air conditioner to the rear. If they become blocked water will pool at front of machine and overflow onto floor. If this happens the air conditioner will require removal from window and servicing. To test, operate machine for 30 minutes and then remove front filter and plastic cowling. If front of base completely full of water, but little dropping from rear of machine onto ground, suspect blocked passageways.
6. Outside temperature too cold. This problem is more common near the end of cooling season. If outside temperatures drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night the cooling coil may ice up. If no leakage at bedtime but water in front of machine in morning, suspect this problem. If this problem suspected turn off machine before bedtime and restart as day warms. Alternately, operate machine at night with selector switch in ‘fan only’ position. This will circulate room air during night, but not allow cooling and the subsequent water leakage.

Contact Sierra Mechanical today for help with your cooling system. 

Keep your Condenser & Compressor free of obstructions.

A central AC system's air compressor and condenser are usually located outside the house, close to your foundation. It works best when there's about 24 inches of clear space in all directions, so get rid of nearby shrubs, tall grass, leaves, and hanging branches. Install condensers or window units on the north or east side of your house, or build a screen to shield them from the sun. Putting them in direct sunlight reduces their efficiency by as much as 10 percent.

Why and How to Use a Timer

There's no need to blast the AC while you're away. For central units, install a programmable thermostat that lets you set higher temps when you're gone and cooler temps when you're home. Newer window units have built-in timers and adjustable thermostats, or you can buy a timer at any home store for $10 to $20; just make sure it matches your device's voltage. Unless you're going on vacation, don't shut off the system; otherwise, the air compressor will need to work harder to cool your house later.

Why and How to Fix Duct Leaks

Ducts can lose up to 30 percent of airflow through leaks. Find leaks using the old "smoke trick": For window units, light a stick of incense and hold it where the unit and the window frame meet; for central AC, hold the stick near duct connections. If the smoke blows around, you've got leakage. For ductwork, use foil tape to seal small gaps and duct mastic for larger ones; for window AC units, stuff foam between the device and the window frame, taping as needed. 

15 Interesting HVAC Facts

We hope you enjoy these 15 interesting facts about your heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC) system.

• In 80 AD China, an artisan named Ding Huan created a 10-foot wide rotary fan. It was comprised of 7 connected wheels. A single person could power the device by simply turning a crank. The primitive air conditioner cooled an entire hall of people.
• Air conditioning does not cool a house down. Rather, it removes heat from the house.
• The Romans were the first to utilize any type of warm-air heating system.
• John Gorrie, the father of refrigeration and air conditioning, was a medical doctor. In 1842 he developed a machine to make ice to create cool air for his patients. (He was living in Florida at the time.) He thought his ice-making machine could be used to cool down homes and other buildings. In 1851 he received a patent for his idea, but died penniless three years later after losing his financial backing.
• Air conditioning’s development gave a big boost to the movie industry. Before A/C, movie theaters got rather hot in the summertime.
• Packard was the first automobile manufacturer to use air conditioners in their cars. This practice started in 1936.
• Geothermal power can drill into the Earth’s crust and extract natural heat coming from the Earth’s core. The deepest geothermal well built to this point is called the Kola Superdeep Borehole. It is used for research and goes seven miles below the Earth’s surface.
• The first steam-heating system install occurred in England. That way the Governor of the Bank of England could grow his grapes in cooler temperatures.
• Besides giving you a cooler home, an air conditioner helps clean the air in your home. Air is drawn through return air ducts and passes through an air filter that removes items such as dust, dander and lint from the home’s atmosphere. The cleaned up air then comes back through the home.
• The item that changes resistance as heat temperatures change is called a thermistor. The thermistor alerts the thermostat to adjust itself to the right temperature.
• Since 1960, more than 50 percent of America’s economic growth can be attributed to air conditioning units in the southern and western parts of the country. It is now possible to live there year-round and work year-long in comfort.
• The gold standard of the HVAC world is the Air Standard. This means that air must be 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) with a 36% relative humidity at 14.7 psia (pounds per square inch absolute.) It’s not easy getting to that state.
• Geothermal power is definitely efficient. It drills down deep enough to extract warm thermal energy that is easy to cool and also easy to heat. This saves energy that would be used to balance warm and cold temperatures.
• Before air conditioning became common, many businesses and government office took two month long summer vacations.
• Michael Faraday, in 1820, first conceived of the modern concept of air conditioning. He discovered that compressed and liquefied ammonia could chill the air when it was allowed to evaporate. 

 For more facts on HVAC or to schedule a service, call Sierra Mechanical today. 636-240-8383

Did you know...

Movie theaters were one of the first public places to have air conditioning.

EXPERTip:

Wash and dry several loads at once. This way your dryer doesn't completely cool down the next time it needs to heat up for your load.

Professional HVAC Services

At Sierra Mechanical Services Inc. we know that having the right people on the job is just as important as choosing the best equipment. Our York trained professionals provide you with top quality equipment, skilled installation and an expert analysis of your comfort needs. Our recommendations will fit your budget and lifestyle needs. We're particularly proud of providing heating and air-conditioning systems that have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal. It's one more assurance that, when you choose York products and our specialized technicians, you're choosing quality.

Energy Saving Tip:

Save energy by keeping your air conditioner out of the sun. Locate the unit out of direct sunlight and avoid the south and west sides of the house. Placing the air conditioner in direct sunlight causes it to work harder to cool your home.

Sierra Mechanical Services Inc.

The focus at Sierra Mechanical Services Inc. for complete customer satisfaction on every job means we believe in offering products that we know will give our customers the performance and reliability we would require for our own homes.