Category: Blog

If you have purchased a new air conditioner, one of the first things you need to consider during AC installation in Lake City, FL, is placement. The right location can boost your air conditioner’s performance, maintaining the indoor temperature at optimal costs.

If you plan to install the outdoor condenser where the last one was, then stop right there. That is the sort of thinking that leads to homeowners making AC placement mistakes with far-reaching consequences. So, try taking your time to understand why condenser placement is so important and the factors you need to consider to ensure long-lasting AC performance.

Why Is It Vital To Understand Condenser Placement?

Well, think of the condenser as your indoor unit’s best friend. One cannot function efficiently without the other. While the indoor AC unit removes heat from inside your home, the outdoor condenser takes care of expelling the heat to the outside air.

It may seem very tempting to place your AC condenser where it’s inconspicuous, such as an attic, basement, garage, or crawl space. However, the condenser cannot do its job effectively if it is not in the correct location outside your home. Here is why:

• Air supply
  The condenser requires enough air supply to help it cool the refrigerant and continue working.
• Airflow
  Apart from the adequate air supply, a condenser requires unobstructed airflow. Therefore, make sure to leave at least two feet between the condenser and other obstructions.
• Heat
  If the condenser is outside, it has enough space to release heat. However, placing a condenser unit indoors causes the air around it to heat up, which reduces the overall effectiveness of the AC.

Other Critical Factors To Consider For Condenser Placement

• Strong Wind

Extreme weather with strong winds can knock over the condenser unit or clog it with debris, damaging the delicate condenser fins. Try placing wind barriers, like a fence, to reduce wind impact.

• Flooding

Prolonged exposure to standing water can negatively affect your condenser as it encourages corrosion. It can also damage the electrical wiring within the condenser. Consider setting up a drainage system around your condenser to carry water away from the unit or placing it on higher ground.

• Heating Sources

While a little sunny spot will not necessarily disrupt a condenser’s ability to cool your home, extreme heat can make it work harder to expel air gathered by the AC. Therefore, place the unit under a shaded area to help the unit function more effectively.

• Stability

The condenser motor emits vibrations when it runs. If you place the condenser on uneven, soft, or weak ground, the vibrations can displace the unit, leading to damages and excessive noise. Choose or build a stable, hard surface to install your outdoor condenser.

Get More Advice At Franks And Lane

If you are still unsure where to install your condenser unit, talk to one of our professionals. As certified experts, we can evaluate your yard and choose the best place to place your outdoor unit. Whether installation or AC maintenance in Lake City, FL, we are available 24/7 to take your calls on (386)466-7514.

If your heat pump doesn’t turn on, it is relatively common and can easily be fixed. Nonetheless, because many homeowners do not know how to fix it, they end up calling professional experts to overhaul issues that they could have fixed themselves. For instance, some problems that homeowners can easily fix include:

• A thermostat that was not set appropriately
• An emergency switch that is turned off
• A blown fuse in the electrical panel box
• A tripped or switched off a circuit breaker
• A tripped outdoor reset toggle

How Much Time Does it Take for a Heat Pump to Reset?

You can reset the unit by turning it off with the thermostat or circuit breaker. After some time, turn it on again. It can take up to 15 minutes for the outdoor system to restart.

How Do You Reset Your Heat Pump?

Resetting a heat pump can be both a simple and difficult task based on what is causing the problem. You can either reset your heat pump on your own or seek the assistance of an HVAC expert. You can also make a service call to the manufacturer for the best heat pump repair in Lake City, FL.

To reset the heat pump, you can follow the steps given below:

1. Check the thermostat and turn it OFF

If you have to reset your heat pump because it keeps running off or doesn’t execute the desired function, resetting the thermostat is the best option. The first step is to see the settings on the thermostat and adjust them.

A heat pump serves two main objectives – to warm up your residence or cool your space. In case of warming or heating, check if the thermostat is set to heating and cooling modes. Adjust the thermostat to regulate the desired functionality. If still, it doesn’t work out, contact a heat pump repair in Lake City, FL.

2. Check the power supply and turn the power switch OFF

If your heat pump is not functioning properly, you can check if it has an adequate power supply. Maybe someone might have switched off the power switch, impeding the power supply to the heat pump.

Heat pumps come with various circuit breakers to regulate the power supply. There are two breakers. One of them is for the condenser and another for the air handler. The two breakers should be on, and if they are not, you must turn them on.

3. Turn OFF the two circuit breakers

Now, you have switched off the thermostat and the power switch. Turn off the circuit breakers on the air handler and the condenser and wait for a few minutes before carrying out the next step.

Are you looking for an HVAC service in Lake City, FL. Look no further than Lane Heating and Air, LLC? To book our expert and affordable HVAC services, you can call us now at (386) 466-7514.

Heat pumps are becoming an increasingly notable option to traditional heating equipment because of their ability to heat and cool efficiently, therefore, low energy usage. For example, an air-source heat pump, which disseminates heat between the air outside your residence and the air inside, can provide up to three times more heat energy to a house than the electrical energy it consumes. Their energy and cost-efficiency make them an attractive purchase for homeowners.

Nonetheless, after buying your heat pump, are you facing some problems? While heat pumps are valuable and convenient, they are prone to wear and tear like any other appliance.

Signs That Indicate A Heat Pump Problem

• Outdoor Fan Problem

The fan motor might be ceasing to function or dead. The fan itself could be damaged, which hinders the furlough of heat from the heat pump and causes ice to collect.

• Low Refrigerant

If your unit has a passive leak of refrigerant, ultimately, the charge becomes so poor that the unit does not elicit enough heat to melt the ice. As a result, there may be issues with the unit reaching a set temperature.

• The Outdoor Compressor Contactor

A contactor is a tiny device that regulates the flow of electricity airflow. If your compressor contactor breaks down, you will require a proficient expert to deduce whether you have a cracked compressor contactor or need a new heat pump installation in Lake City, FL.

• Dirty Coils

Mud, soot, and dirt on the coils deter your heat pump from functioning properly. Since heat transfer transpires through the coils, they cannot work properly if ice, dust, or dirt are on them. Normally, you should clean your HVAC system coils every two months to avoid such issues.

• The outdoor unit is Blocked

If piles of snow are amassed around the outdoor unit, the restrained airflow can result in more icing.

• Thermostat Problems

A thermostat’s job is to tell your heat pump what temperature to maintain. If the thermostat loses power, it cannot signal to the heat pump what to do. Thus, your heat pump will not turn on.

If the display is not on, it implies that it does not have power. Replace the batteries or, for hardwired systems, check your residence’s electrical panel. Your circuit breaker may have tripped, or you might have blown a fuse.

• Incorrectly sized Heat Pump

If your heat pump still creates a problem even after eliminating the problem, it can be due to the incorrect size. For instance, if your heat pump is too tiny for your living space, it will have to work constantly to maintain the set temperature.

Regular maintenance of heat pumps is necessary for preventing issues beforehand.

Are you looking for a heat pump contractor in Lake City, FL? Look no further than Lane Heating and Air, LLC. To book our expert and affordable HVAC services, you can call us now at (386) 466-7514.