Rentmeister Total Home Service Blog: Archive for August, 2013

Common Plumbing Repair Services in Salt Lake City

Thursday, August 29th, 2013

You probably don’t give much thought to your plumbing system but it works hard every day to bring you fresh water and safely dispose of your waste water. All of the near-constant use can lead to a variety of problems that require professional services. We get countless calls every year for plumbing repair services in Salt Lake City and we wanted to share some of the most common issues that we see. Give us a call if you have any questions or if you’re having any problems with your air conditioning system.

Most Common Salt Lake City Plumbing Repair Services

Here are a few of the most common Salt Lake City plumbing repair issues that we get called to fix.

  • Clogs – Usually, clogs don’t develop overnight. Instead, they tend to develop slowly over time as your plumbing system operates. If you start to notice any slow drains in your home it could be a good idea to get ahead of the problem by calling early for Salt Lake City plumbing repair services. This will help you avoid complete clogs where you lose function of any critical drains in your home. In particular, the kitchen sink is highly vulnerable to clogs because of the large food waste that it has to deal with. Avoid putting things like animal bones, starchy foods and melted grease down your drain as these are common causes of drain clogs.
  • Leaks – Another common problem that we get called to repair is a leak. Leaks can be caused by a wide variety of things. It could be that your pipes are old and are at the end of their lifespan. For copper water pipes, small dents in the pipe can cause pinhole leaks that allow a small amount of water to leak out over time. Cracks from tree roots, stress, shifts in the ground and deteriorating seals can all lead to the development of leaks. If you notice water spots on the floor or ceiling, if you notice a drop in water pressure or if you hear water running even though all your appliances are off, call for service immediately.
  • Plumbing pressure – Finally, one common cause of plumbing problems is an imbalance of pressure. Your plumbing system operates on a delicate balance of pressure. As water flows through your pipes it pushes air ahead of it and produces a vacuum behind it. In order to accommodate both of those pressures, your plumbing system has a series of vent stacks. If your pipes weren’t installed right or if there is a clog somewhere in the system it could cause an imbalance of pressure which could manifest as smelly drains or slow drains.

For quality plumbing repair services, make sure that you call the professional Salt Lake City plumbers at Rentmeister Total Home Services.

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Problematic Air Conditioning Sounds

Wednesday, August 21st, 2013

Your air conditioning system is a complex piece of equipment that uses many different moving parts to successfully remove heat from your home and exhaust it outside. One of the most common ways that homeowners discover that their air conditioning system is broken is through it starting to making weird noises. If your AC has developed any new noises it likely means that you need to call for air conditioning repair services in Salt Lake City. Give us a call here at Rentmeister Total Home Service if your system is having any problems. Here is a quick explanation of some of the most common sounds that likely mean that you have a problem.

Salt Lake City Air Conditioning Repair FAQ: Problem Sounds

Make sure that you keep an ear out for the following sounds that could indicate that you need to call for Salt Lake City air conditioning repair services.

  • Hissing – If you hear any hissing noises coming from your air conditioning system it could be a sign that you have a refrigerant leak somewhere. It could be coming from the evaporator or condenser coils but it could also be a leak near the compressor.
  • Squealing – When your air conditioning system starts to make a squealing noise it usually means that the fan motor belt is old and needs to be replaced.
  • Rattling – If you hear rattling you could likely stop running your air conditioning system. This could be caused by debris caught in the fan blades. Sticks and twigs can damage your fan blades so make sure that you call for repairs early.
  • Gurgling – If your air conditioning system is making a gurgling noise it usually means that you have low refrigerant in your system. The gurgling noise is caused by the air in the lines.
  • Buzzing – If you hear a low buzzing coming from your air conditioning system it could be caused by a couple things. If you have a heat pump it might be the reversing valve solenoid but this is usually not a problem. But if your fan motors or the compressor aren’t working and you hear a buzzing noise it could be that the capacitors are bad and the motors are trying to start up without them.

When you need any air conditioning repair services in Salt Lake City, Renmeister Total Home Service is here to help.

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Common Air Conditioning Problems during the Summertime

Friday, August 16th, 2013

In Bountiful, UT, air conditioning systems keep our homes comfortable when the heat outside starts to rise. No one wants to experience air conditioning problems during the summertime, when even a few hours without cool air can feel like an eternity. A good service professional can handle any issues quickly and professionally, but before you give them a call, it helps to identify the more common air conditioning problems and their sources.

A number of AC unit problems come about from a lack of adequate maintenance. When dust and dirt build up in the air filters, it can interfere with air flow into your home as well as creating a dust build-up in the system itself. Dirty coils prevent the cooling process from functioning as it should, while leaks can rob your system of refrigerant and damage its ability to cool the air. That all comes on top of normal wear and tear that forces your AC unit to work much harder than it should. A regular air conditioning maintenance schedule can keep those problems in check and lower your monthly bills by helping your system to use less energy.

Drainage problems can sometime pop up as well. Your air conditioning system probably contains a condensate pan and drain line to remove condensation from the system, and possibly a condensate pump as well. When these elements don’t function as they should – if the line is clogged, for instance, or the pump is malfunctioning – the condensation will build up in the pan. If left unchecked, the water could leak onto nearby components, causing a serious repair issue.

Electrical problems sometimes rear their heads during the summertime as well. Worn or damaged terminals may cause the system to behave erratically, and low voltage levels may prompt a “hard” (or stuttering) start to the cooling cycle. Many components in your air conditioning system have automatic shut-off switches that trigger when the component is damaged or overworked: turning your system off and preventing further damage.

Whatever the cause of the difficulty, you shouldn’t have to wait to get it corrected.  At Rentmeister Total Home Service, our trained Bountiful air conditioning technicians can handle all manner of air conditioning problems. We serve the whole of the Bountiful, UT area, as well as nearby communities. Call us today, and let us put your air conditioning worries to rest.

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Air Conditioning FAQ: Why is Important to Tune-Up Your Air Conditioner?

Monday, August 5th, 2013

If you are looking for maintenance and tune-up services, contact the Salt Lake City air conditioning experts at Rentmeister Total Home Service. We’ll make sure your AC system is ready for the hottest summer months with our comprehensive 20-point air conditioning maintenance check.

Here’s what you get with one of our AC tune-ups and why it is so important to schedule one of these once a year:

  • Check Thermostat: We check for accuracy, display problems and system start and shutoff.
  • Inspect Filters: There are many types of filters that require different attention. We check the filter and perform the necessary service for your system.
  • Check Electrical Connections: Many problems occur as electrical connections become weak from vibrations. We check for good connectivity with all connections.
  • Check Blower Wheel: Make sure all motor and blower wheels are free from dust and dirt, which is a major reason for AC failure.
  • Check Door Switch: This is a safety device and must be in working order for those who work on the equipment.
  • Outdoor Temperature: This check helps us to check your refrigerant charge for accuracy.
  • Liquid and Suction Pressure: Checking an air conditioner’s pressures is very important. This tells us whether there are problems inside or outside the home.
  • Check Indoor Blower and Bearings: Check for cleanliness, proper airflow and the motor.
  • Check Contractors: We check contractors for pitting and debris that could stop a contractor from passing on the voltage to the compressor and condenser fan motor. We clean or replace as necessary.
  • Check Crank Case Heater: The crank case heater helps keep the compressor from slugging and causing damage or burning up.
  • Check Fan Cycle: Checks performed to make sure fan is operating as it should be.
  • Check Outdoor Coil: A dirty outdoor coil stops the hot air collected from inside from dispersing outdoors. A clean coil helps the efficiency of your air conditioner.
  • Blower Amps and Volts: The correct volts ensure the motor works efficiently. Checking amps tells us if the motor needs to be lubricated or replaced.
  • Check Indoor Coil: Any dirt on the coil will affect your air conditioner causing the system to freeze up and stop cooling.
  • Record Compressor Amp: This check helps us make sure your compressor is functioning at its capacity.
  • Run Capacitor: The run capacitor helps the compressor run efficiently. If the capacitor stops working, it could take out the compressor.
  • Blower Capacitor: This helps the blower motor run smooth if it stops working it could result in burning up the blower.
  • Check Run Defrost Cycle: Very important cycle on a heat pump, and it is important that it operates efficiently.
  • Temperature Difference: The check is a “double check” all other checks performed and also verifies refrigerant charge.
  • Check Reversing Valve: Very important valve for heat pumps and is checked.

To have one of the Salt Lake City air conditioning technicians at Rentmeister Total Home Service perform an air conditioning check at your home, please call or email us at any time.

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