Updated on September 28, 2020
Air Conditioner Turns On and Off Right Away
A clear sign of trouble in your air conditioner is if it short cycles, or turns on and off unexpectedly. It might give you a headache, especially if it happened during a particularly hot day. Don’t worry because this might be a simple problem you can fix yourself. If not, your HVAC contractor will be there to help you out.
Some Problems You May Solve Yourself:
Thermostat
Some settings with your thermostat might be causing your air conditioner to turn on and off. Check its timer and change it to suit your needs. You should also replace its batteries if the screen appears blank.
Air Filter
A common trouble that causes short cycling is a dirty and clogged air filter that needs some cleaning. Turn your unit off and clean the filter or replace it if needed.
Evaporator coil
Sometimes, the evaporator coil gets dirty or covered with ice. That will make it hard for it to process the air; and might shut down the system. It is simple enough to clean it up. To melt the ice, turn off your system for at least 24 hours, dry it up, and turn it back on.
Condenser
The most exposed part of your unit is the condenser. You have to check it from time to time, and trim foliage near it so nothing will restrict its airflow. If something blocks it, it might cause the whole system to short cycle.
Bad Capacitor
It is relatively easy to spot a bad capacitor and replace one. You will be able to easily tell this if the short cyclings are accompanied by humming noises. You can purchase an identical capacitor with the correct voltage rating and capacitance to suit your air conditioner.
Problems that Require the Help of A Professional:
Electrical Parts
Some trouble with the electrical parts may also cause short cyclings. You need to ask an expert to check wirings, circuit boards, and others.
Oversized Air Conditioner
A unit too large for your system will work ineffectively. It will cause insufficient cooling and will turn off unexpectedly, as it will cool the place quickly but unevenly. Before installing a new air conditioner, consult your HVAC contractor so you can get the perfect one for your system and house.
Low Refrigerant Level
Refrigerant level goes down after using your air conditioner for several years. Your technician may detect this problem on regular services. If not, you may contact them to recharge it for you.
It can also go down because of a leak, which is highly unsafe. You will know if your unit makes loud screaming noises. Turn it off immediately and call an expert to fix it.
Low refrigerant level causes your unit to short cycle and work inefficiently as heat cannot be absorbed.
Broken Thermostat or Remote Control
Your thermostat might be broken if it still won’t function even if you get new batteries. This is, unfortunately, not an easy fix for you. It will make your air conditioner turn on and off unexpectedly.
The same goes with a faulty remote. It is best if you call a technician to fix it
Some problems might be easy for you, but some might not. Make plans with your contractor to avoid unexpected problems and emergency costs. Do not hesitate to call one to help you!
Updated on May 5, 2020
How Does Yard Drainage Systems Work?
Are you looking for the answer to the question, “How do yard drainage systems work?” There are many factors that go into making this a simple process, but the first step is to understand what exactly you are working with. After all, the average homeowner doesn’t know their way around their entire system.
The two most common ways of dealing with water in your yard are through gutters and downspouts. However, it is necessary to note that if there is no way for water to escape, it isn’t going to be a drain at all. Instead, it will run off into the ground, only to return to water the lawn later.
In order to avoid these situations, a lot of work goes into the construction of these two items in your yard. Gutters are very small and have straight sides. They either run from one side of the home to the other or come off the backside.
A new downspout is built in the same manner, except it comes off the front of the home. For ease of installation, it is common for the plastic to be installed directly on the ground. When it rains, it will simply run down the side of the house instead of soaking into the ground.
In order to avoid debris in the yard, downspouts often use vinyl pipes that are pre-installed into the ground. The downspout may be installed near the garden, out in the back, or anywhere else you would like to see water run off of. When the storm comes, it will be the main reason people get their gutters replaced.
When considering a downspout or any other yard drainage systems, the first thing to consider is how big the hole needs to be. If you aren’t sure, you can just buy a piece of metal to use as a guide. This way, you won’t get any more frustrated with trying to figure out how to get something of this magnitude installed properly.
After you have figured out how big the hole will need to be, you will need to consider what materials you will need to get your yard drainage systems installed. In general, there are two types: gravity fed and electronic. As with any other project, you need to decide which one will be best for you.
One of the benefits of electric units is the fact that they are easily taken apart and repaired if you are having a problem. These are also easier to store, as well. However, the down side to them is that they are quite noisy, especially if you are using them in a large area such as your backyard.
The next step in how do yard drainage systems work is simply running the length of the house so that the water comes out the bottom, rather than soaking into the ground. This is important, because if it is too deep, you can end up creating a slippery mess, which can ruin the look of your property. The easiest way to go about this is to drive a stake down the center of the lawn, and then use a couple of garden forks to dig up to the point where the water drains.
Chemical based products are great because they are usually quite environmentally friendly. This doesn’t mean you need to run them through the entire yard, however. For those with smaller yards, they can be used as a sprayer for quick watering and without creating a mess.
The final step in how do yard drainage systems work is to add the necessary pipe that will eventually connect to the downspout. You can go ahead and put this in at any time, though it is better to leave it put in for a couple of days before you start watering. This allows time for the wet material to dry up and give you a good seal that your job is done.
If you want to know how do yard drainage systems work, the answer isn’t really as difficult as you may think. It’s just a matter of identifying the materials you are going to need, picking out the right sizes, and how much water you will need for a given area.