When you turn on your air conditioner or adjust it down to a cooler setting, do you detect an odour that seems damp or stale? If so, you should know that this is not normal. Ideally, an air conditioner should not produce any smells at all.

While the musty smell is not dangerous per se, it could be a sign of mould somewhere in your HVAC system. Breathing in mould spores can cause health issues affecting the upper respiratory tract. If you have allergies or asthma, you could have a severe reaction. The smell is a warning that you should have professional air conditioning services in Kitchener to identify and correct the problem. If you are wondering why this is happening, here are some possible causes.

1. Full Drain Pan

Part of the way that an air conditioner lowers the temperature of your building is by removing moisture from the air, making it less humid. The A/C accomplishes this by drawing the warm air over the evaporator coils, which are freezing cold. The change in temperature causes the water vapour in the air to cool and condense. The drain pan is located underneath the evaporator coils to catch the drops of water that condense from the evaporator coils in residential air conditioning.

The drain pan is one of the most important parts of the air conditioner. Because it sees so much use, it can develop problems such as corrosion or cracking. A drain pan that is no longer functioning efficiently may grow mould, which accounts for the musty smell when you turn on the air conditioner or reset it.

2. Blocked Condensate Line

One of the reasons that your drain pan may be full is that your condensate line is blocked. Once the water vapour is condensed and collected in the drain pan, it has to go someplace else to make room for more. The condensate line allows water to run from the drain pan to a location outside the home, whether to the landscaping or a wastewater line. The condensate line isn’t very wide in diameter, which means it doesn’t take much to block it. Sludge can build up in the condensate line, and mold and mildew can grow there as well, all of which can lead to blockages.

3. Excess Moisture in Vents or Air Ducts

If the drain pan is full, perhaps because of a blocked condensate line, the water in the drain pan may back up into the ductwork. Excess water in the ductwork can cause mold and mildew to grow. High humidity levels can also cause mould and mildew growth within the ductwork. Left unchecked, it can spread throughout the ductwork. This can be a problem because, when the air conditioner is operating, the circulating air can pick up the mould spores and spread them throughout the house. This accounts for the musty smell that you perceive when you turn on the air conditioner, and it also increases the likelihood of suffering upper respiratory complaints from breathing in the spores.

4. Wrong Size of the A/C Unit

Many factors determine the size of the air conditioning unit you need. In addition to the square footage of your building, the local climate, height of your ceiling, type of insulation, and the number of occupants all make a difference. When it comes to air conditioners, bigger is not necessarily better. Excess moisture can result when the air doesn’t become completely dehumidified because it is cycling through the building too quickly because your air conditioner is too large.

CJ Brubacher has been in business for nearly 100 years. During that time, we have gained the necessary expertise to provide the best HVAC services to our clients. Find out more about our residential and commercial air conditioning services.

4 Tips to Ensure Your A/C Is Ready for Summer

The best way to avoid the heat in the summer is to step into the air conditioning. Unfortunately, too many people fail to check their A/C units before the hot weather. You do not want to be stuck sweltering in the heat of the summer without a working A/C. Air conditioning services in Waterloo can help assess your system, but there are a few things you can do as well. 

You can kick your system on before you need it to ensure it is running smoothly. Additionally, you can clean the unit off from the winter muck. There are four more things you can do, but they are best left to professionals if you do not feel comfortable. 

1. Check the Filter

Air conditioning filters are not lifetime warranty parts. A filter will get dirty and need replacement. Most manufacturers and service technicians recommend replacing filters once every three months. However, you should replace them more often if you have allergies or other conditions. 

A dirty filter is one of the leading causes of a faulty air conditioning unit. A clogged filter can affect blowing pressure and so much more. If you just realize that you do not remember the last time you replaced the filter, go get yourself a replacement. Filters are among the most straightforward components to replace. You can usually find the location of the access panel in the owner’s manual. 

2. Check the Blower

Residential air conditioning unit installations are usually on the outside of the home. Some professionals install units on the roof, but many are along the perimeter of the house. Every unit has a blower, which contains a fan and motor. The blower does make some noise, but the noise should not excel a specific level. 

If your blower is loud or producing strange noises, there might be something wrong. Because of the components, the problem could be a belt or other mechanical part. You should be able to see the fan through a vent on top of the unit. If the fan seems inconsistent, contact a professional to assess the internal components. 

3. Check the Evaporator Coils

Evaporator coils are crucial parts of your A/C unit. The coils absorb the heat from inside your home, replacing the hot air with cold or cool air. However, for the coils to work correctly, they need to be clean. Dirty coils can cost you up to 30% more on your utility bills. Additionally, poorly maintained coils can affect system performance. 

You can prevent dirty evaporator coils by remembering to replace your air filter once every three months. Additionally, you should have your unit maintained by a professional at least once per year. Having the unit inspected at the beginning and end of the season is even better. 

4. Check the Thermostat

Many people get themselves anxious over nothing. Sometimes, the problem with your system is not the air conditioning unit, but the thermostat in the house. Thermostats are sensitive devices, and because they live on a wall, it is possible for damage to occur. Before you blame your A/C unit for a problem, check your household thermostat. 

If the thermostat is okay, check your unit’s temperature. Set a thermometer on the register supplying your home with cool air. Let it sit there for five minutes. Record the temperature reading. Move the thermometer to the return vent. There should be a 15° discrepancy between the two readings. 

Whether you are worried about a residential or commercial air conditioning unit, you need to make sure everything is operational come summer. Contact the experts with CJ Brubacher Ltd. and schedule an inspection.

People outside of Canada may assume that it is cold and snowy here all the time. However, if you live in Kitchener, you know that summers can become quite warm. If there is something wrong with your air conditioner, you want to identify it right away so you can call for air conditioning services in Kitchener. Here are some common problems you may encounter and what may be causing them. 

1. Condenser Coil Freezing

It takes energy to cool your home or office during the summer. The hotter the outside temperature, the harder your AC has to work. This is normal and expected. However, if your unit has to work too hard, it could cause the condenser coil to freeze, which is not normal. 

Air conditioners work harder when they are dirty or when their parts are obstructed. You can prevent the condenser coil from freezing by having frequent maintenance to check the ducts, condenser, and blower fan for obstructions and by changing the air filters frequently. 

2. Hot Air Blowing Instead of Cold

One of the most obvious types of residential air conditioning problems, as well as one of the most frustrating, is when the unit blows hot air when it is supposed to be blowing cold. You turned on the AC in the first place because you were too warm, and now this just compounds the problem. 

Assuming that you have checked to make sure that you switched the central HVAC unit over to air conditioning, there are two reasons for hot air blowing when you want cold. The refrigerant level may be low, or the compressor may be overheating due to an obstruction in the ducts or a dirty air filter. You may be able to prevent such issues by having regular duct cleanings and changing the filter frequently. Once the problems occur, however, they require professional air conditioning services in Kitchener to correct. 

3. Air Conditioner Not Turning On

It’s bad enough when your air conditioner blows hot air on you, but it is even worse when it doesn’t turn on at all. If it doesn’t help to set the thermostat to a lower temperature, this is probably a sign of an electrical problem. The wiring may be loose or the thermostat may be faulty. Commercial air conditioning may stop working because a circuit breaker has tripped, meaning that the demand on the circuit is greater than its supply. Attempting to fix electrical issues yourself is dangerous if you do not know what you are doing, so bring in a professional. 

4. Strange Smells Coming From the System

When an air conditioner is functioning properly, you shouldn’t be able to perceive any smells coming from it. Malfunctioning AC units, however, can produce several types of strange smells, and the type of smell may give you a clue as to what is causing it. For example, if the smell is musty, it means that there is a problem with the drainage. Water is collecting where it is not supposed to and may be facilitating mold growth.

A burning or electrical smell is a more serious problem. If you perceive it, you should turn off the air conditioner right away. The system may be overheating, probably due to clogged air filters, which should be replaced immediately. Contact professional HVAC services right away if you encounter the problem of a strange smell coming from your unit. You may also be able to prevent the problem with regular cleaning of the unit and the ducts. 

Turn to Us for Air Conditioning Services in Kitchener

While air conditioning may seem less vital than heating, high temperatures are responsible for more deaths than any other weather. Therefore, your AC is anything but expendable, and you should have it serviced by the qualified technicians at CJ Brubacher. 

It is normal for air conditioners to produce water as they operate. An AC unit works by cooling hot air to an appropriate temperature before blowing it around the house. When hot, humid air cools, it is no longer able to carry as much water vapour, which changes into droplets via a process called condensation.

The air conditioner is equipped with a system that carries the excess water out of the house. If your AC is leaking, it means there is a problem in the system that may require air conditioning services in Kitchener to correct. Here are some common reasons why air conditioners start leaking.

1. Low Refrigerant

Refrigerant is a liquid chemical contained in the evaporator coil of the air conditioner. When hot air passes over the evaporator coil, the refrigerant absorbs the heat, cooling the air. If the refrigerant level is low, you may find that the air conditioner isn’t blowing cool air. The evaporator coil can also freeze due to the decrease of pressure inside the system. If this happens, the AC can start leaking as the ice melts. It may be possible for the damage to be repaired if the problem is caught in time. Otherwise, the air conditioner may have to be replaced.

2. Dirty Air Filter

Water that condenses inside your air conditioner is supposed to be caught by a drain pan. This connects to a condensate drain line that allows the water to flow outside. The drain pan may overflow if the evaporator coil freezes. In addition to low refrigerant, another potential cause of evaporator coil freeze is a dirty air filter that does not allow the air to reach the evaporator coil. Blocking the flow of air prevents the refrigerant from absorbing heat from the air.

A dirty air filter can cause other problems within an HVAC system as well. It can cause parts to wear out more quickly by forcing the system to work harder than it was designed to do. HVAC filters are either disposable or reusable. In either case, each one should come with instructions describing how often it needs to be replaced or cleaned. Many require attention every three months, but some can go longer than that.

3. Clogged Drain Line

The condensate line is supposed to carry the water that collects in the drain pan outside the home where it cannot do any harm. However, if something clogs up the drain line, the water has no place to go except to back up and get into your house. The condensate drain line is susceptible to mould growth and the collection of dust or dirt.

If the problem is a clogged drain line, you may not need to call residential air conditioning services right away. It may be possible to use a wet-dry vacuum cleaner to remove whatever debris is clogging up the drain line. If that doesn’t work, you definitely need to call air conditioning services in Kitchener, and even if it does, you may still want to consult the professionals about what caused the clog in the first place and what should be done to prevent the same problem from recurring later.

4. Rusted Drain Pan

Over time, metal components are susceptible to oxidation and corrosion from exposure to water. Holes can form in a rusted drain pan, preventing it from doing its job effectively. The older your air conditioner is, the more likely it is that the drain pan has rusted or otherwise become damaged. Replacing the drain pan may be adequate to resolve the problem.

Air Conditioning Services in Kitchener From CJ Brubacher

We understand how uncomfortable summers in Ontario can be when it is hot and humid. We are available 24/7 to answer repair calls about your residential or commercial air conditioning as soon as the problem arises. Find out more about how we have been providing quality workmanship to customers in and around Kitchener since 1923 and what we can do for your air conditioner.