With temperatures hitting all-time highs across the country, especially here in the Inland Empire, our air conditioners are working overtime to keep us cool and comfortable. But when was the last time you stopped and thought about maintaining your AC unit? Was it the last time it broke down on you? Well, you are in luck. Below you’ll find quick tips for maintaining your AC.

Visual HVAC Inspection

First let’s take a walk around your home. Notice any drafts from any windows, doors, or cracks? If you do, make sure to repair or replace those areas as this is one of the ways warm air can sneak into your home and cold air can sneak out. The inside of your house has more pressure than the outdoors. That’s why you might notice doors slamming if left open.

Air Duct Cleaning

After your quick assessment,  look at your return air ducts and air filters throughout your home. Replace filters, preferably every 6 months (but some dustier areas may find they need to increase the number of replacements each year) and clean those return air ducts. Regular cleaning of the air ducts can help prevent dust build up and help with allergies as well. 

Checking AC Compressor

Once you have noted or made the necessary replacements and repairs inside, let’s head out to your compressor unit. Here you will want to hose off dirt and debris, remove any leaves or items that may be blocking any part of the unit (make sure to not put your hand in or near any moving parts of the unit as this would be hazardous to your health). Make sure that the coils, fan, and all parts of the compressor unit are clean and free of debris, then check the insulation on the pipes running from your compressor to your home. If you note any damage to the insulation, make sure to repair the area right away.

Air Conditioning Repair

Once the outside unit has been refreshed you should be able to head back inside to enjoy your nice cool air-conditioned rooms. Now if you find that these steps did not do the trick, it may be time for a thermostat upgrade. There are many new and improved thermostat versions out there, several of which can now be controlled through apps on your smartphone. Our team can assist you with deciding which thermostat is best for you as well as help with any repairs you may have overlooked or need assistance with completing. To make sure that your AC unit performs at its best all year schedule a regular maintenance appointment with us every spring.

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We are happy that things are getting back to normal. We continue to look out for the safety of you and your family. Our Parts department is now available for pickup. Please call ahead to schedule a time at 951-653-0940. Parts can also be mailed or delivered to you. Service calls continue to be limited. We are closed Saturday and Sunday. You may always fill out the Appointment Request or Order Parts form to expedite service. We appreciate your patience and hope you remain healthy!

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We are happy that things are getting back to normal. We continue to look out for the safety of you and your family. Our Parts department is now available for pickup. Please call ahead to schedule a time at 951-653-0940. Parts can also be mailed or delivered to you. Service calls continue to be limited. We are closed Saturday and Sunday. You may always fill out the Appointment Request or Order Parts form to expedite service. We appreciate your patience and hope you remain healthy!

April 6, 2020

We are returning to limited service today. This is for the protection of our team and your family. Our parts department remains closed for pickup. Parts can be mailed or delivered to you. Service calls will be limited to three per day. You may always fill out the Appointment Request or Order Parts form to expedite service. We appreciate your patience and hope you remain healthy!

No Service Calls Until April 6, 2020

We had to make some difficult decisions because of the coronavirus pandemic. For the health of our customers and employees, we will be pausing all service work and part pick-up through Sunday, April 5. Parts can still be ordered and delivered by mail. You can still order parts here.

Keep yourself and your family safe during this time. We look forward to serving you again on Monday, April 6.

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5 Dangers of a Dirty Oven

1. Fire- According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2011-2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 170,200 home structure fires that involved cooking equipment per year. Food and grease spills left in an oven can continue to cook while your oven is on. Not only can this ruin your dinner but it could ruin your evening as well.
2. Diminished Food Flavor- Not only can a dirty oven cause a fire but it can also lead to diminished food flavor. Carbon-based fumes released by food remnants in your oven can alter the taste of your food, especially baked goods like cakes and breads.
3. Unpleasant Smell- Have you ever burned dinner? The smell of burned food can linger well into the next day if not longer. When cooking in a dirty oven, the carbon-based fumes released by cooked-on food can result in an unpleasant smell in your kitchen. This smell can linger and even spread to the rest of your home. Could you imagine hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the in-laws only to have the smell of burned food lingering in your kitchen? Your mother-in-law wouldn’t be impressed.
4. Health Issues- When you open the door of your oven, does smoke pour out? Chances are you either burned your dinner or you’ve got some baked-on grease and grime creating the smoke. Inhaling this smoke can cause respiratory issues. When your oven is coated in baked on food and grime, cancer causing compounds from charred meat or fish can make their way onto your food and cause harm.
5. Less Efficient- When your oven isn’t as clean as it should be the cooking process can take longer making your oven less efficient and driving up your utility bill. No grime is worth a higher electric bill.

What to do if Your Oven Catches Fire

Would you know what to do if your oven was to catch fire? Check out these tips so you can be prepared if the unthinkable ever happens to you.

1. Leave your oven door closed and turn off your oven – Although this may seem like something you would never want to do, opening the open door will only feed oxygen to the fire, causing it to expand. By keeping the door closed and turning off your oven, you are depriving the fire of oxygen. When you are sure the fire is out you can proceed with step 3.
2. If the fire does not go out on its own, evacuate your home and call 911– DO NOT try to fight the fire on your own. The National Fire Protection Association, found that more than half (55%) of reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurring between 2011 and 2015 happened when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves.
3. If the fire goes out on its own open your widows, carefully open your oven door, remove the hot pan, and determine the cause of the fire. This will help the smoke to clear out and help you get a better visual of the situation. Allow the smoke to clear before attempting to determine the cause of the fire. If you’ve had a fire in your oven and are unsure of the cause, call to make an appointment before cooking in your oven again.

How to Clean Your Oven Overnight

Don’t want to use harmful chemicals to clean your oven? Don’t have a self-cleaning oven or don’t like the smells your self-cleaning oven emits? This easy overnight method is for you!

What You’ll Need

3 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 cup vinegar

1/8 cup liquid dish soap

2 cups hot water

What to Do

1. Combine all the ingredients except your baking soda in a spray bottle and shake well.
2. Spray mixture generously over your oven coating the surface completely.
3. Sprinkle baking soda generously around your oven. To coat your entire oven you can make a baking soda paste with some baking soda and a few tablespoons of water.
4. Respray your oven with your vinegar, dish soap, and water mixture.
5. Let it sit over night or for at least 12 hours.
6. Wipe out your oven with a damp dish cloth. You could also use a silicone spatula to help scrape off the baking soda paste in the hard to reach places.
7. Spray a little vinegar anywhere you see baking soda residue. The vinegar will react with the baking soda loosening it so you can scrape it.
8. Do a final wipe down.
9. Replace your oven racks.

How to Clean Your Oven Racks

1. Fill your tub with enough hot water to cover your oven racks.
2. Add a ½ cup of dish soap or sprinkle baking soda over the racks and douse them with vinegar before soaking them in hot water.
3. Let your racks sit overnight.
4. In the morning, scrub your racks with an old dish towel or toothbrush to remove any grime left on your racks.
5. Rinse them off one more time and place them back in your oven after drying.

Conclusion

When was the last time you cleaned your oven? If you can’t remember, it might be time to break out the baking soda and start the process. A clean oven is a safe oven and a safe oven is a happy oven.

The post Is Your Dirty Oven Secretly Killing You? appeared first on AM&M Appliance Services.

Do you have a favorite pair of socks? They’re cozy, the fit your feet perfectly, and don’t bunch around your toes or hug your ankle too tightly. When they’re clean they’re normally the first pair of socks you reach for. We had a pair of socks like that, perfect in every way. Until one day, we put our favorite pair of socks in the washer and only one came out. Now, we’re on a quest to find out where lost socks go and hopefully reunite Socky with his mate. Come with us on this journey as we look for our missing sock and find out what really happens when good socks go missing.

Who we’re looking for

Name: Socky

Description: Blue and white crew cut sock.

Distinct Features: He is ultra-soft, has a cushioned sole, and has a smooth toe seam.

Other Information: We’re not sure if he’s traveling alone or with other lost socks. We’re not sure if Socky is a right or a left sock, but we do know he fits perfectly no matter what foot he’s on.

Please help us find Socky, our foot sure is cold without him. He is a valued part of our sock drawer and we just want him back in one piece, no questions asked.

Want to see our progress with the search for Socky? Like us on Facebook today!

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Why is Heater Maintenance Important?

You wouldn’t put 200,000 miles on your car without taking it in for an oil change or a tune-up. Think of an annual service for your HVAC system as the same thing. You want to make sure that all of the moving parts and pieces that make up your HVAC system are cleaned, inspected, and adjusted to help them last longer. Before you think about turning on your heater, let’s look at 4 of the benefits of an annual heater service.

1. Lower Energy Bill

In the same way that getting a tune-up in your car can ensure efficiency, getting your heating system serviced makes sure that your unit is running at peak efficiency. Through regular maintenance, we can detect problems with your unit that could cause your utility bill to go through the roof (or release toxic fumes into your house) and solve them before things get out of control. Your technician can also tell you when it is time to start considering replacing your system before you are forced to.

2. Fewer Repairs and Less Chance of Breakdown

When you make sure to get your heater maintained on a regular basis, you help ensure that your unit is in good working order. All parts and pieces of your system will be cleaned, inspected, and adjusted at appropriate intervals. If you wait until something goes wrong, there is a stronger likelihood of needing replacement parts and installed instead of easier and less expensive repair work. Regular maintenance checks can also help catch potential problems by examining each piece of the unit for visible wear and replacing them before things actually break.

3. Longer Unit Life

By ensuring that all the pieces and parts of your heater are kept in working order you can help your system have a longer life. HVAC systems are large investments it is important to protect your investment by making sure that it gets the maintenance it needs in order to keep in in good shape and working efficiently for many years to come.

4. Safer Equipment

HVAC system inspections can reveal dangerous problems such as carbon monoxide leaks and electrical hazards. Carbon monoxide is almost impossible to spot because it is colorless and odorless. Carbon monoxide exposure can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and even death. The CDC estimates that more than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning and more than 20,000 visit the emergency room due to exposure each year. Electrical hazards, like faulty wiring, can cause fires.  Your technician will test for traces of toxins and will also check your wiring to make sure your unit is safe.

Things you can do

When it comes to the safety of your family, you want to make sure you can protect them at all costs. Getting your HVAC system serviced every year not only ensures your unit is safe it also keep your unit performing efficiently and reduces the chance of costly repairs. In addition to scheduling a maintenance service be sure to change your filters regularly, remove debris from around the outside unit, don’t allow debris to accumulate on your outdoor unit, keep foliage 18 inches from your outdoor unit, and keep supply and return registers unblocked. If you haven’t already, call us today to schedule your HVAC system service.

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What Causes Air Conditioners to Freeze?

There are many reasons that can cause your air conditioner to freeze up, especially in Riverside or other Southern California cities. Our desert climate means we’re using our A/C units often! Factors like improper air flow or low refrigerant can all be reasons why your air conditioner isn’t cooling properly. Let’s take a look at 5 of the most common factors that can cause your air conditioner to freeze up.

1.) Low Refrigerant Levels- Whether you have a refrigerant leak or the refrigerant levels were charged incorrectly, low refrigerant levels can lead to a frozen air conditioner. When the refrigerant is not at the right level the condenser coil in your air conditioner can become too cold resulting in the freeze.

2.) Closed or blocked Supply Registers- Closing vents in unoccupied rooms is a well-known way to save money and energy. However, if too many get closed it causes inadequate air flow which leads to a frozen air conditioner. Make sure no more than 25% of your supply registers are closed to avoid air flow problems.

3.) Dirty Air Filter- Has it been a while since you have changed the air filter on your HVAC unit? Dirty air filters are one of the main causes of low air flow and add extra stress on the rest of your unit. When air flow is impacted the coil does not get enough warm, humid air to keep it from freezing. Monthly air filter changes can help keep good air flow moving through your HVAC unit.

4.) Drainage Problems- During the cooling process, your air conditioner condenses water vapor into a liquid that then drains outside. If the coils become frozen, the ice around the coils can cause the drainage hole to become blocked. Your air conditioner still runs, but it isn’t properly cooling down your home.

5.) Thermostats- A thermostat that is set too low or is starting to go bad can cause your air conditioner to run constantly which can drop the temperature of the condenser below freezing. Most outdoor air conditioners do not perform well in temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.  If the temperature outside falls too low your unit may not function properly and freeze ups can occur.

What Can I do when my Air Conditioner Freezes?

So you’ve noticed that your air conditioner is frozen, but what can you do to rectify the problem to prevent any damage?

1.) Turn off your unit- First things first, turn your air conditioner completely off at the thermostat. This will prevent you from wasting money and energy, as well as prevent risking damage to the compressor.

2.) Wait for the ice to melt – While waiting for the ice to melt, see if you can find your air conditioner’s drain and make sure it is clear of debris and twigs.

3.) Check your air filter and supply registers- Another thing to do while waiting for the ice to melt is to check your air filter and make sure your supply registers are open and unobscured.

4.) Time the air conditioner cycle – Once you believe the ice has melted, try turning your air conditioner back on. If the unit responds, is blowing cool air, and you do not hear a stuttering-like sound, your unit is more than likely unfrozen. Keep an eye on your air conditioner and make sure it shuts off when it reaches the temperature set on your thermostat. If it precedes to run even after cooling to the set temperature, contact us to schedule an appointment for any necessary repairs and ensure your unit is working properly.

Air Conditioner Service in Riverside, CA

It is important to remember that air conditioners are complicated systems which need regular maintenance. If they are not cared for, they suffer serious damage. The best way to prevent a frozen air conditioner is to perform regular maintenance to keep your unit working in tip top shape. If you are constantly battling a frozen HVAC system in Riverside or other Inland Empire city, call us today.

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