Clawson Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

When Is It Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner?

Monday, September 19th, 2022

No one wants to replace their air conditioner, but the time will come for every property. In general, you can expect an HVAC system to last at least 10-15 years. Some may last up to 20 years. How much the system is used and how consistent you are with filter changes and annual maintenance service will impact the life of the air conditioner tremendously.

If you think your turn to schedule HVAC replacement in Gresham, OR, is coming soon, it helps to understand the warning signs that your system’s life is nearing its end. The more you pay attention to how your air conditioner is operating, the more time you may have to prepare for the cost of AC replacement.

Tags: AC Repair, Gresham
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“Can Too Much High Heat Overwork My AC?”

Monday, August 22nd, 2022

two-technicians-standing-over-outdoor-ac-unit

One of the most common questions we get during the summer, especially during a prolonged heatwave, is “Can too much high heat overwork my AC?” The answer to this question is, “Yes and no.”

Here’s the thing… if you have your air conditioner regularly maintained each year, and you set it to a reasonable temperature, it should be able to work just as it’s intended to, without much trouble.

This means you should be calling for professional AC maintenance at least once a year… if you have a heat pump system then you’ll want professional maintenance done twice a year to keep it in good shape.

Maintenance allows our technicians to comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it to keep it operating as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible.

Back to the question of high heat and whether or not it can “overwork” your air conditioner… it is possible. Air conditioners do have their limits, but maybe not in the way you would think. It’s all about the temperature differential. Read on to learn what this is!

Tags: AC Repair, Portland
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What Size Should Your New AC Be?

Monday, August 8th, 2022

When you read a question like this blog post proposes, your thought may be “Well, I will just buy the biggest one I can afford.”

After all, bigger means more powerful, right? It does, but this may not actually be the right choice for your home.

There are actually two problems with this assumption.

When we talk about an air conditioner’s “size” we aren’t talking about just it’s width and height. We’re talking about its tonnage.
Bigger doesn’t always mean better–an air conditioner can actually be too big for your home.

We’re going to talk about your air conditioner’s tonnage today. What it means, why it matters, and the importance of having a professional determine all of this for you to help you make an educated decision the “size” of air conditioner you should get. Read on!

Tags: Central AC, Gresham
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Why You Might Want to Go Ductless This Summer

Monday, July 11th, 2022

Have you always been using a standard central air conditioner for your home cooling? There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, of course! In fact, today’s models of central air conditioners are far more efficient than those of even the last decade, and systems being developed in 2023 and beyond will be even moreso.

That said, as great as central air conditioners are, this is not your only option for cooling. You may be ready to consider the installation of a ductless air conditioner. Read on to learn about the numerous benefits of such a system.

Tags: Ductless Air Conditioning, Portland
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Can I Set My Thermostat To Its Lowest Setting?

Monday, June 27th, 2022

digital-thermostat-with-smiley-face-and-winter-hat

When the heat starts rising outside and you’re inside your living space, what do you do? Well if you have central air conditioning, you turn it on! We may not live in as hot of a place as other parts of the country, but relatively speaking, our summers are pretty warm! Having an effective and efficient air conditioner in place is vital.

But, we have to ask… how low do you set your thermostat when you turn on your air conditioner? If your response is “As low as possible!” then you might actually be pushing your air conditioner beyond its limits.

“Wait,” you might be wondering, “If my thermostat goes that low, why can’t I set it that low?”

It’s not that you can’t, it’s that you might prefer not to, after reading this blog post. Read on!

Tags: AC Service, Portland
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What Size Air Conditioner Should I Get?

Monday, June 13th, 2022

If you’ve decided that it’s time to purchase a new air conditioner this time of the year, then chances are you’re in a bit of a rush to get one. But this is one decision you don’t want to make in haste, as doing so can leave you with an ineffective and inefficient cooling system.

For instance, what if you get the wrong size unit? You may not realize this, but having too large or overpowered of an air conditioner can be just as detrimental as having too small, or underpowered of a system. We’ll explain why below… please give it a read, and when you’re ready to make an HVAC purchase, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for professional and reliable installation.

Tags: Air Conditioning Services, Portland
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Why An Air Conditioner Might Struggle to Cool Effectively

Monday, May 16th, 2022

two-technicians-standing-over-outside-ac-unit

We may still be in the middle of spring, but summer is just around the corner, and our air conditioners need to be ready to handle the warmer temperatures.

Hopefully, you’ve already scheduled your air conditioner maintenance appointment. Professional maintenance allows our technicians to comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it. This keeps your air conditioner working as efficiently and effectively as possible for as long as possible.

Whether you have scheduled it or not, one thing is for sure–if you turn on your air conditioner and it doesn’t seem to be cooling your living space as it should, or like it used to, you have a problem on your hands.

But what’s wrong? Read on to find out!

Tags: AC Services, Portland
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“Help! My Heat Pump Won’t Switch to Cooling Mode”

Monday, May 2nd, 2022

It’s that time of year again–the time of year when it’s time to turn our attention away from our heating use and begin to use our air conditioners again. If you have a heat pump system, this is a pretty seamless process right? You just switch your thermostat from heating to cooling mode and voilia! Cool air rushing into your home.

Wait, that’s not what happened? Have you discovered that your heat pump won’t switch to cooling mode?

The good news is that there are a number of things that can cause this, and a couple aren’t as serious or detrimental as others. Read on to learn what may be going on, and a couple of ways you can troubleshoot your heat pump before giving our team a call.

Tags: Air Conditioning Services, Heat Pumps
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The Top 3 Air Conditioner Myths

Monday, April 18th, 2022

closeup-of-woman-wearing-glasses-looking-concerned

There are quite a few air conditioner misconceptions out there. You might not think this is a big deal, but the truth is, that believing these misconceptions can matter.

The reason it matters is that you could be using your air conditioning system inefficiently, paying more for your energy usage than you really need to, exacerbating system wear-and-tear, and potentially shortening the overall useful service life or your cooling system.

Read on as we dive into the 3 most common AC misconceptions out there.

Tags: Air Conditioning Services, Portland
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“Why Isn’t My Air Conditioner Working?”

Monday, April 4th, 2022

Typically when we get this question, “Why isn’t my air conditioner working?” the asker is referring to an air conditioner that’s running, but it may not be pumping out the cooled air that they’ve come to expect and appreciate. Naturally, if there is lukewarm air coming out of your vents on a sweltering hot day, it tends to cause a little alarm.

And we get it! Your air conditioner should be able to keep you effectively and efficiently cool whenever the temperatures rise. So, read on as we uncover why your air conditioner might “not be working,” and what to do about it! Warmer weather may still be a ways off, but it’s always good to be prepared.

Tags: Air Conditioner Repair, Portland
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