It's the norm rather than the exception for a central split-system air conditioner to have one component fail before the other. Most often, the outside unit, exposed to the elements, quits before the inside unit. When this happens, you'll have to make a decision – whether to replace the component that's failing, or replace the indoor and outdoor A/C units with a whole new system. In most cases, the second choice is the way to go. Here are some of the reasons.

Matched Sets Are Designed to Work as a Team

The interior and exterior units of your split-system air conditioning system were engineered to work as team. This provides the best prospect for the A/C's advertised efficiency and performance. While you may be able to match a new outside unit with the inside component, it will never operate as well as a matched system.

Benefit From Design Advances

If you upgrade to a new, matched air conditioner, you can take full advantage of advances in technology, such as variable-speed and multi-level components in the air handler and compressor. This may not be possible when matching a new component with an old one.

Take Advantage of Improved Energy Efficiency

If you purchase a new split-system A/C featuring a high seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), you'll benefit long-term from lower energy bills. However, if you match a new outside unit with the old inside component, your system will not achieve the rated cooling efficiency.

Age Difference Can Be a Problem

If you're not replacing the indoor and outdoor A/C units at the same time, you probably will continue mismatching the air conditioner components in the future. On the other hand, if your outside unit fails tomorrow, the inside unit probably doesn't have that long before it goes, too. Upgrade to a whole new system.

Replacing the indoor and outdoor A/C units at the same time is the wise decision. For help finding a new split-system A/C for your Northern Virginia or Maryland home, please contact us at Modern Mechanical.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northern Virginia and Maryland about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor and outdoor A/C units and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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A wet air filter in your home's central air conditioning system is something you should watch out for. Moisture will not only render the filter ineffective, but also usually signals some other problem in your A/C system. If a wet air filter goes unaddressed, those problems can become serious.

When correctly installed and kept fresh, clean and dry, an HVAC air filter will remove unwanted particulates from household air, including pet dander, mold spores, pollen, bacteria and more. This not only enhances indoor air quality, but also protects system components, saving energy and improving performance in your HVAC system.

When the filter gets wet, mold and mildew can develop on the filter media, hampering indoor air quality. The wet filter also will restrict airflow that's necessary for the cooling process and air distribution.

How Does an Air Filter Get Wet?

The inside unit of a central A/C contains the evaporator coil. Refrigerant in the coil removes heat energy from household air, along with moisture. While the refrigerant removes heat from the home, the moisture drips under the evaporator coil into a condensate collection pan. From there, it should safely drain away. If the collection pan and drain are clogged, however, the water can flood and damage areas around the inside A/C unit. It also may soak into the air filter. The air filter also can get wet if the air conditioner hasn't been correctly installed or maintained, or if the filter was inserted the wrong way. These issues may allow condensation from the evaporator coil to get into the air filter.

Keeping the Air Filter Dry

Schedule routine maintenance for your A/C system, at least annually. A trained technician will make sure issues don't arise that result in a wet air filter. However, you should also occasionally check the air filter to make sure it's not getting wet and the condensate drainage system to ensure it's not backing up.

For more tips on avoiding a wet air filter and other A/C tips, please contact us Modern Mechanical. We provide quality services to Northern Virginia and parts of Maryland.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northern Virginia and Maryland about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about wet air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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During the heat of summer, central air conditioners sometimes freeze up. When the evaporator coil freezes, it won't be able to adequately cool your home. If this occurs repeatedly, it can damage your cooling system. Following are some common reasons for a freeze-up and how to troubleshoot a frozen evaporator coil.

Obstructed Airflow

Inadequate airflow across the evaporator coil is a common cause for a frozen evaporator coil. When the heat-exchange process occurs as intended, the refrigerant expands and turns into a gas. It extracts heat energy from interior air during this conversion, which cools it off. When there's not enough air blowing across the coil, the refrigerant will struggle to absorb sufficient heat. Its temperature will drop and the coil may freeze. You'll want to turn off the A/C and allow it to thaw out, and then check for a dirty air filter or dirty evaporator coil. Kinked or otherwise defective ductwork also can reduce airflow.

Refrigerant

If your central A/C doesn't have sufficient refrigerant, this also can freeze the evaporator coil. The refrigerant is still allowed to expand into a gas in the coil, but because there's not as much of it, the refrigerant will cool more rapidly. This may freeze moisture in the air around the very cold coil. Any problem involving refrigerant should be addressed by a professional.

Unreasonable Demands on Your A/C

If you overwork the A/C – for example, by asking it to cool a home to 65 when it's 95 degrees outside – this can cause the evaporator coil to freeze up. Avoid this issue by not making unreasonable demands of your A/C.

Mechanical Issues

A variety of mechanical malfunctions can result in the evaporator coil freezing up. Possible problems include a defective blower fan, kinked refrigerant line or clogged filter. Anything that changes pressure in the cooling system can result in the coil freezing up.

If your efforts to troubleshoot a frozen evaporator coil fail to address the problem in your Northern Virginia home, contact Modern Mechanical.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northern Virginia and Maryland about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about evaporator coils and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Do you have a central A/C that's tripping the circuit breaker in your home? If you do, you should get the problem addressed. It signals something malfunctioning either in your home's electrical system or the A/C equipment itself. Some of these issues you can troubleshoot yourself while others should be handled by a professional HVAC technician or electrician.

Problems With the Electrical System

A malfunction in the wiring or circuit could result in an A/C that's tripping the circuit breaker. Possible problems include loose electrical connections and a defective breaker. Call a certified electrician to address these issues.

Problem With the A/C

If the air conditioner is tripping the circuit breaker, the equipment likely is pulling an excess of amps from your household electricity. This can happen if your A/C is working too hard. Following are some possible issues

• You ask your A/C to work too hard. This may occur when someone inside the house cranks the thermostat down too far when the temperature outside is very hot. Most A/Cs will struggle to close a large temperature gap between inside and outside, for example, from 95 to 65. Avoid doing this to your A/C.
• The A/C's air filter is dirty. If airflow through the forced-air cooling system is restricted by a clogged air filter, defective or dirty ductwork, or blocked vents and registers, the air conditioner must work harder to push air through the system.
• A dirty condenser coil can result in the circuit breaker tripping. The A/C will have a hard time releasing heat energy removed from the home into the outside air. While a handy homeowner can clean the coil, in most cases you're better off leaving this job to a professional.
• Other issues that can trip the A/C's circuit breaker include low refrigerant, mechanical problems with the condenser fan, blower fan, compressor or capacitor. If any circumstance with your A/C is elevating the amperage draw in your home, this can trip the circuit.

For help with an A/C that's tripping the circuit breaker in your Northern Virginia home, contact Modern Mechanical.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northern Virginia and Maryland about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about A/Cs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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When you're shopping for HVAC equipment and products, you need a simple way to check for quality and efficiency. As a matter of fact, there is a way to separate the good from the bad when it comes to energy efficiency and performance. That's the federal government's Energy Star program. When a consumer sees the distinctive Energy Star logo, he or she will know the product or system uses energy efficiently without sacrificing quality or features. The Energy Star logo is awarded to qualifying heating, cooling and ventilation equipment, systems and products, as well as other appliances, electronics and products.

For some 23 years, the Energy Star logo has been hard to miss in appliance and electronic stores, and your HVAC dealer likely stocks a full line of Energy Star-qualified furnaces, heat pumps, A/Cs, and more. The program has been instrumental in saving consumers over $300 billion on energy and utility bills, while at the same time significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Advantages of the Energy Star Logo

For a product or appliance to qualify for the Energy Star seal of approval, it must satisfy minimum standards for energy efficiency. While the standards vary from product to product, qualifying HVAC equipment will boast between 10 and 20 percent greater energy efficiency than comparable non-qualifying systems. Other home appliances eligible for the Energy Star program include air purifiers, ceiling fans, water heaters and building products such as insulation, windows and doors.

To qualify for the Energy Star program, products must show that they aren't sacrificing quality and performance in order to achieve energy savings. These standards are certified by a third party.

When purchasing Energy Star-qualified HVAC systems and other products, you may qualify for rebates and other incentives offered by utilities and state governments. The Energy Star website details which products might be eligible for rebates.

Furthermore, Energy Star-rated products are good for the environment – an asset that goes hand in hand with energy efficiency.

To discuss upgrading your Northern Virginia home's cooling or heating system to one with the Energy Star logo, contact us at Modern Mechanical.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northern Virginia and Maryland about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about Energy Star Logos and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Your central A/C has been chugging away for several months now to keep your home cool and comfortable. For it to operate reliably and efficiently, it does need maintenance, both professional and do-it-yourself. One task you can do yourself is keeping the A/C condensate drain clean and clear of blockages. If it does get clogged, clear it out. When the drain backs up and/or the collection pan overflows or leaks, you can end up with major water damage in your home.

So how does the condensate drainage system work? As refrigerant moves through the evaporator coil in your A/C's indoor unit, it's allowed to expand and turn into a gas. As this happens, the A/C cools by removing heat energy and moisture from the air. The refrigerant carries heat outside where it's expelled into the surrounding air. The moisture, however, drips from the coil into a collection pan underneath, then exits through a drain line, eventually leaving the home. As time passes, algae, dust and even mold can clog up the A/C condensate drain line.

How to Keep the Drain Clean

The drain should be cleaned once or twice a year, either by you or your trusted A/C technician. After turning off the A/C, remove the panel from the inside air conditioning unit. Underneath the evaporator coil you'll see the condensate collection pan. If water is still in the collection pan, this signals a clogged drain. You can use a wet/dry vacuum to clean the drain pan. Find where the drain line leaves the home. It probably will be near the outside condenser/compressor unit. If the drain pipe has a 90-degree fitting at its end, removing it may actually clear the clogged drain. If not, take the wet/dry vacuum to draw the clog out of the drain line.

Prevention is also important. This includes regular air filter changes, cleaning the evaporator coil when it gets dirty, and treating the drain line with an anti-algae solution.

For more information about keeping the A/C condensate drain clean in your Northern Virginia home, contact us at Modern Mechanical.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northern Virginia and Maryland about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about A/C condensate drains and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Ductless mini-splits have gained widespread popularity for their practical cooling and heating applications for home additions, retrofits and hard to reach areas in the home. To drive performance, you need to choose the best places to install the indoor and outdoor parts of your ductless mini-split. 

Ductless Systems

Three components contain all the parts of a ductless system. Like bulkier central air conditioning systems, the ductless system's outdoor cabinet houses the compressor, condenser, fan and electrical parts. The indoor air handler consists of a sleek cabinet or cassette that houses the evaporator, condensate drain, fan, air filter and electrical sensors.

The third component of a ductless system is a thin conduit housing refrigerant lines, power and the condensate drain. Depending on the selected unit, the conduit may extend 50 feet or more, which offers greater flexibility when choosing the best places to install the indoor and outdoor parts of your ductless mini-split. Keep in mind that the closer the indoor and outdoor parts, the better energy efficiency you'll receive.

Indoor Parts

The indoor air handler cabinet of your new ductless system may be mounted to a wall, the ceiling or the floor. For wall-mounted units, the cabinet should be six or seven feet above the floor. You may also choose a recessed cassette installation for a more low-profile look. Whichever installation you decide is best for your home, it's important to install the cabinet so that airflow reaches all parts of the zone.

Outdoor Parts

The outdoor cabinet needs a firm footing so that it doesn't move during storms, high winds or if it is bumped. A small concrete pad or paver stones may be used. You may also choose to mount the outdoor cabinet to the exterior wall of your home, which elevates it from the ground to protect against snow buildup. Consider protecting the unit from the elements, such as direct sunlight, snow and debris, with an overhang.

For professional assistance choosing the best places to install the indoor and outdoor parts of your ductless mini-split, please contact Modern Mechanical in Northern Virginia today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northern Virginia and Maryland about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about ductless mini-splits and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Service techs are often asked what HVAC means. This common industry acronym stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.  These are the three main factors behind a comfortable and healthy indoor environment. Here’s how each element of an HVAC system functions and how they all work together to bring dependable, energy-efficient comfort to your living spaces.

Heating

Forced-air is the most common residential heating system in the U.S. Heat produced by a gas-fired burner flame or by electrical resistance coils is pushed by a blower into ductwork and distributed throughout the house. Radiant floor systems circulate hot water through a grid of tubing installed in the slab or electrical resistance mats installed beneath the sub-floor.

Geothermal heat is latent heat energy always present only a few feet below the surface of the earth. That energy is harvested by an underground heat exchanger and is conveyed to an indoor heat pump, concentrated by a compressor cycle, then dispersed into the household ductwork.

Ventilation

Exhaust-only ventilation includes spot fans such as kitchen and bathroom fans to ventilate small areas.Whole-house ventilation utilizes an attic-mounted fan to pull large volumes of fresh air into the house through open doors and windows

Balanced ventilation like heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) intake fresh air and exhaust stale air in equal volumes through dedicated ductwork, while also transferring heat from one air flow to the other to preserve indoor temperatures. Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) also transfer humidity.

Air Conditioning

A standard central A/C is a heat-mover. The indoor evaporator coil in the central air handler extracts heat energy from the household airflow and transfers it outside to the condenser coil, where it’s dispersed into the outdoor air. What’s left behind in the house is cool comfort.

Popular single room air conditioning options now include ductless mini-splits that remove heat from individual rooms utilizing compact wall-mounted air handler units and downsized outdoor heat pumps.

For more answers to what HVAC means to you and your indoor environment, contact the professionals at Modern Mechanical.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northern Virginia and Maryland about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about HVAC systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Like other appliances, the water heater in your Virginia home requires regular maintenance, and, when done properly, you can expect your water heater to last at least 10 to 15 years. Here are a few water heater maintenance tips that will help extend the life of your system.

Water Heater Maintenance Tips

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for routine maintenance, which will be outlined in the owner's manual. Some tasks, like draining the tank and checking the relief valve, you can do yourself, but the rest should be handled by a professional.

• Test the relief valve every six months. Turn off the gas or electricity, as well as the cold water supply. Place a bucket under the pressure relief valve, then open it, allowing any gases or water to escape. If the valve doesn't open or nothing comes out, have the valve replaced to avoid a dangerous buildup of pressure.
• Drain the water heater at least every six months to avoid sediment accumulations that could reduce the system's efficiency or clog plumbing fixtures. Turn of the cold water supply and the gas or electricity. Place a bucket under the drain valve or attach a hose to the valve and run it to a low area, such as a sump pit. Open the valve and let the water drain completely. Fill the tank back up before turning on the gas or electricity.
• Have a professional inspect the water heater at least once a year and perform any required maintenance.

Tips to Save Energy

• Repair any dripping faucets or other water leaks to avoid heating unnecessary amounts of water.
• Reduce your water heater's temperature to 120 degrees, which will reduce its energy consumption by up to 10 percent.
• If your water heater is warm to the touch, add an insulation blanket to reduce your energy costs by up to 10 percent.
• Use pipe wrap to insulate hot water pipes that are in unconditioned areas.

For more water heater maintenance tips, talk to our plumbing experts at Modern Mechanical today. We serve the northern Virginia region, as well as nearby Maryland.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northern Virginia and Maryland about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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When is the last time you scheduled routine A/C maintenance on your home's cooling system? If the answer is more than a year ago, or you can't remember, it's probably time to schedule a preventative maintenance visit. Routine A/C maintenance includes a number of standard checks and tasks that will make sure your central A/C is prepared to operate smoothly, efficiently and safely for the rest of the summer. The technician also will find and address small problems before they develop into big, expensive ones.

Common Tasks During Routine A/C Maintenance

While not every technician will complete precisely the same tasks during an air conditioning maintenance visit, there are a number of standard tasks that should be undertaken.

For instance, the technician should check refrigerant pressure and level. If it's low, your technician should check for refrigerant leaks, since the level should remain constant during normal A/C operation. After any leaks have been repaired, he should fill the refrigerant to the correct level. System airflow also should be checked and adjusted, and ducts should be inspected for leakage and other issues.

Thermostat accuracy should be checked. The technician should make sure electric terminals are clean and tight, with non-conductive coating applied where necessary. Electric controls should be checked, and the tech should determine that both heating and cooling systems can't operate at the same time. The technician should inspect the capacitor in the outside unit.

Both the evaporator and outside condenser coils should be inspected and cleaned if necessary, and the condensate drain system should be checked for blockages. The condensate should be able to flow smoothly away. The technician may end up treating it with an anti-algae solution.

The homeowner should do his part as well, checking the air filter monthly and changing it when it gets dirty. Also, make sure all vents and registers are clear of furniture and other obstructions.

To schedule routine A/C maintenance for your Northern Virginia home, please contact us at Modern Mechanical.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northern Virginia and Maryland about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about A/C maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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