Category: Air Conditioning

Problem Pests & Peeing Damage to an Outdoor Air Conditioner

Some might say this is a Number 1 problem (it is definitely not Number 2). Nonetheless, finding out that a dog has been peeing on your air conditioner is not great. And it is an issue that you can’t ignore. Dog urine can cause some real damage to your outdoor air conditioning unit.

Tiger Heating & Air is called out all the time for a variety of different air conditioning problems across Corpus Christi. We have handled every type of AC problem including units damaged from dog urine.

Dog Urine is Damaging

Urine can ruin an AC unit because it contains acid. That acid will corrode the aluminum fins and copper coils inside your air conditioner.

One “accident” is likely not a disaster, but that is rarely the case. If a dog has picked your AC as his new bathroom, he is likely going to revisit it. Repeated use of urine on your air conditioning unit will eat away at the metal.

Signs a Dog is Peeing on your AC

Here are a few signs that could indicate some local canine is making your AC his new favorite potty spot:

• Higher energy bills
• Freon deficiency, needing replacement
• Unit not performing as well this year
• Needing to replace fins and/or coils

Troubleshooting Dog Urine Damage to an AC

If you happen to catch Spot in the act, you should act right away. Turn off your air conditioner, turn off the power to your AC unit, and clean it right away. Why? That urine can damage your coils by causing corrosion to them.

Clean the unit by following these steps:

• Remove any protective grills
• Lightly spray your unit with a garden hose, making sure to especially spray any coils that were directly “hit”
• Clean off any debris you find while you’re at it
• Replace the protective grills and wait at least an hour before turning the power to the unit and the unit itself back on

If only a few aluminum fins are damaged and the coil is not leaking, you may not have an urgent problem. While fins are important parts of an air conditioner, having only a few damaged (less than 25%) should not cause your AC to break down. If that is the only damage you have (and the problem isn’t getting made worse with repeated urination), you may be able to delay repairs.

However, with those damaged fins, your AC coils are exposed. If they appear to be visibly damaged (corroded) by the dog urine, you will want to get the coils repaired or replaced.

If you don’t feel confident in your ability to handle this level of AC maintenance, no worries! Professional AC technicians can handle these sorts of maintenance tasks to ensure your HVAC system works properly and efficiently. If you’re in the Corpus Christi area, contact the AC experts at Tiger Heating and Air. 

Give us a call at (361) 852-4450 or send us a maintenance service request online with our Web Scheduler.

Preventing a Pooch from Peeing on an Air Conditioner

Did you find out your good girl is not always being a good girl? It can be difficult to change a dog’s habits, especially when it comes to urination and marking its territory. But there is hope. You can try some dog-deterrent techniques to stop your dog from continually urinating on your air conditioner.

#1: Plant Bushes

Adding plants around an air conditioner can prevent Fido from choosing that unit as its potty spot. Make sure to keep the plants at least 3 feet away from the AC. Read more about the Best Plants to Hide AC Units.

#2: Put a fence around your air conditioner

Just make sure any fence or structure is at least 3 feet away from the unit itself to provide access to the AC for maintenance or repairs are needed.

#3: Spray pet deterrent around the AC unit

There are sprays that can keep a dog from going near it. You just want to be sure to not spray anything like this directly ON the AC unit, as that could damage your system. Just spray it all around the unit to create a sort of barrier to your pet.

Use Tiger to Fight Dog Damage!

If you are dealing with a damaged AC from dog urine or from any other issue, call on Corpus Christi’s AC experts at Tiger Heating & Air at (361) 852-4450.

We will come and check your system and make sure to leave with it operating properly and safely. Getting minor problems fixed right away can save you money in the long run. When your system is not working properly, it is having to work harder to keep your home cool.

Ideas for Landscaping Around an Outdoor AC

Whether for security or beauty, using plants to hide AC units is a great solution. Here in Corpus Christi, where Tiger Heating & Air provides full home cooling service to homeowners and businesses, there are many great landscaping options for doing this.

AC Operation: Important Tips for Nearby Plants

When using plants to hide AC units, you want to keep plants at least 2 – 3 feet of spacing from the air conditioner.

An air conditioning unit needs some breathing room to do its job. If you put a plant too close to an outdoor unit, you obstruct proper airflow, which can cause problems.

• Your energy efficiency could be negatively affected if plants grow too close to a unit.
• It may not work as long as it was designed to and may be more prone to needing repairs.
• It will not be easily accessible for regular tune-ups or if an AC repair is needed.

Consider getting a potted plant. That way, if the plant grows too large or too close to your unit, you can easily move it rather than having to dig it up and replant further away.

Potted plants still need to be put at least 2-3 feet away from an air conditioner unit.

Do not put a potted plant directly on top of the unit itself.

Good plants to hide AC units

Because you need a type of plant that will not cause problems for your nearby AC unit, you want to make sure you are getting the suitable variety.

• Plants that grow upright
  Find plants that grow up, not out. Broad plants can grow too close to your unit. Arborvitaes are a good example of plants that grow upright.

• Plants that don’t grow too quickly
  Make sure your plant isn’t overtaking your air conditioner as it grows. That can cause airflow problems and keep your AC from operating well or efficiently.
  
  Some plants grow 2 feet each year. A fast-growing plant will quickly encroach upon your unit unless you keep it trimmed regularly.

• Plants that are not prickly
  Avoid getting anything with thorns or sharp leaves, like roses or holly. Prickly plants will make it very difficult (or at least painful) for you or a repair technician to service the unit. So while the prickly pear may be a favorite native plant for Texans, keep it well away from your air conditioner.

• Plants that don’t create debris
  You don’t want dirt and debris to get into your outdoor AC unit. That can cause many problems, including an air conditioner freezing up. For this reason, azaleas are a bad idea to plant near an AC unit.

• Avoid pollinators
  Did you know that AC units can become the home of a bee or wasp nest? You don’t want to encourage that with a pollinating plant that lures them closer to your unit. The mealy sage (aka salvia farinacea) is a Texas native plant that attracts bees, so a bad choice to plant near an AC unit.

• Tall grasses are good options
  Whether it’s southwestern bristlegrass, Indiangrass, or big bluestem, you can find a lot of great tall grasses that grow well in Texas to plant near an AC unit. These can get as high as 5 or 6 feet tall.

• Hostas
  If you are not concerned about getting tall plants to hide it but simply want to improve the landscaping around an AC, hostas are great ground plants that won’t threaten your air conditioner.

Make sure that you don’t put mulch too closely around your AC. The coils should never be covered or buried under mulch.

Native Texas Plants

There are many plants native to our area that would work wonderfully for backyard landscaping.

Lacey oak trees are also native to Texas and grow only about 2 or 3 feet tall. They can handle high heat and drought and create nice shade for an AC unit.

Turk’s cap is a beautiful option for landscaping in south Texas, but it grows quickly. While it can reach heights of 6 feet, it can also spread that wide. So be mindful of how close you plant one of these perennials to your AC unit.

Non-plant Landscaping Options

There are other aesthetic ways to conceal an AC unit in your backyard. If you don’t have a green thumb or simply don’t want plants in that location, consider getting a trellis or lattice box around your unit.

While these can be placed closer to an AC unit than plants, you need to make sure there is still access to the AC. Do not cover up the unit so much that you or an AC repair technician can’t get to it for needed maintenance and repair.

Benefits to hiding your outdoor air conditioning unit

Placing plants around your AC can help you hide it as well as make your backyard living space more beautiful. But there are other benefits to adding plants near your AC. Extra plants provide shading to your backyard and your AC unit. Proper placement of plants can provide needed relief from the sun’s heat, which can help your AC perform better.

Need more Air Conditioning Help or Advice?

Tiger Heating & Air has the team of AC repair experts here in Corpus Christi, TX. Our skilled HVAC technicians are trained to service any cooling system.

Give us a call if you need help with your air conditioning system. Contact Tiger Heating and Air online or by calling us at 361-852-4450.

When to Install a Second Floor Air Conditioning Unit

Do You Have a Hot Upstairs?

This is a common problem for a lot of multiple-level homes. The second floor never gets properly cool on hot days. You may have to crank up the AC to get it to acceptable levels, which can freeze out anyone on the first floor.

If you live in a 2-story house, you probably know this situation all too well. Here at Tiger Heating & Air, we have heard from many Corpus Christi homeowners suffering from a hot upstairs. And often homeowners wonder if they need a second floor air conditioning unit.

There are a lot of old homes in our area. Being the HVAC company that has serviced Corpus Christi homes for nearly 3 decades, we have run across every type of heating and cooling problem. Fortunately, there are more solutions to get true home comfort in all of your rooms today than there were a hundred years ago. So, even if we are dealing with a drafty old house, you have new options to make all the floors on your home cool and comfortable year-round.

Common Cooling Problems

• Does your home have insufficient insulation? A home without the proper insulation can be so drafty that it’s virtually impossible to get consistent temperature control throughout the house.
• Does your roof absorb heat? Not only can a poorly insulated roof cause a warm upstairs, a roof made from materials that absorb heat could also make the situation worse.
• Did your home undergo an attic renovation? An attic remodel can affect your cooling problem. If proper adjustments were not made to your home’s heating & cooling system to accommodate a new living space, comfort levels in other parts of your home could be compromised. After all, a system made to only cool one floor will probably not give you a comfortable temperature when creating a 2^nd level of living space.

Understanding Why a Second Story Gets Extra Hot

Hot air rises. Without utilizing any cooling system, your upstairs should always get hotter. But even with central air or another HVAC system, a second floor can still easily become warmer than the main level. After all, your single cooling system (with components usually located on the ground floor and basement) has to do more work to get that cool air to your second floor.

So, what are your options?

You may think your only choice is to get a larger, more energy-efficient air conditioner for your entire home. And until then, you’re left with just trying to avoid the hotter second floor whenever possible.

There are more solutions to fixing a hot upstairs!

When you have Tiger help you finally solve your hot 2^nd floor problem, the first thing we do is determine the source of the problem.  Some of the issues we will look for include:

• Could you have an issue with your ductwork?
• Do you need better insulation?
• Is your AC unit the proper size to handle your home’s square footage?
• Is your cooling system in proper working order?

When to Consider a Second Floor Air Conditioning Unit

While upgrading your air conditioner to a newer, bigger AC unit may be a solution, some homes are better served with a 2^nd AC. Instead of replacing what may be a working air conditioner with a larger one to accommodate your second floor, you can get an additional AC unit installed to address cooling the 2nd floor specifically.

There are a few things to consider when deciding if you need a second air conditioning system installed.

#1: AC INSTALLATION COST

An additional unit may cost less than what you think. After all, this AC is not going to cool the entire square footage of your home. A 2^nd AC unit that works to only cool your 2^nd floor would be smaller than any AC needed to cool your entire home.

Tiger Heating & Air, or any professional HVAC company, will calculate exactly what size AC unit your rooms upstairs need. The square footage of your 2^nd floor will determine the proper unit size. Contact Tiger online or call (361) 852-4450 and we will come out to determine exactly what air conditioner would be best for your home.

#2: ENERGY WASTE & BILLS

New installation isn’t the other financial factor to consider. How much do you spend on your energy bill each month? It might sound surprising, but having two air conditioners to cool a 2-story home may save you money!

If you’ve been dealing with a single AC system that cannot cool all your living spaces, you are putting great demand on your system. It’s working to put out more cool air than it is designed to do. If you are making your downstairs cooler than comfortable with making it right upstairs, then you probably already have realized you are wasting energy (and money). An additional air conditioner focused on cooling just the upstairs will take the work away from the other unit.

#3: PEACE OF MIND

Having two air conditioning units provides you with some unique assurance. You may feel more secure in knowing that your chance of a summer HVAC disaster is significantly reduced. If one of your air conditioners were to break down, you would have another unit still operating. While this sole unit won’t be sufficient to cool your entire home, you will at least have some level of cooling in your home until an AC repair technician comes out and fix the broken air conditioner.

#4: SECOND AC LOCATION

Finding where to put a 2nd AC system can be a challenge. This includes the inside unit (the evaporator) and the outside AC unit (the condenser). You may have limited space for installing a second air conditioner. In addition, a 2^nd unit will need ductwork that is separate from existing ducts with your current unit. Our technicians can walk you through your options to ensure the best space is used for this installation. 

DIY: Little Fixes for a Hot Second Floor

If you’re not ready to upgrade your home system or are still not sure it is needed, you can try to remedy your problem with some smaller tactics.

Here are some basic home maintenance tasks that can help solve some of the problems of overly hot spaces in a home:

• Make sure your furnace filter is clean and is getting changed on a proper schedule
• Make sure your vents are open and not blocked by furniture or anything else
• Close your window blinds and curtains in 2^nd floor rooms to keep the sun from heating up the space

If these little steps do not provide enough relief to the heat, give Tiger a call at (361) 852-4450. We will be happy to come out and see what sort of cooling system work can be done to even out the temperature throughout your home.

6 REASONS WHY AN AC UNIT IS COVERED IN ICE 

It’s a bizarre sight, but not uncommon. On a sweltering Corpus Christi Day when the sun is shining, you find that your outside air conditioner is covered in ICE! 

What should you do when you have a frozen air conditioner? 

Calling Tiger Heating & Air is to come out and fix your AC will get you back up and running, but there are a few DIY steps you can try yourself. There may be a relatively simple problem causing your air conditioner to freeze up, and one you might be able to repair quickly and cheaply! 

We will go over the most likely reasons why ice develops on an air conditioner. Some have troubleshooting steps that many homeowners can try to tackle on their own. Other causes are best left to trained HVAC repair technicians who can accurately diagnose the problem and successfully resolve it. 

FROZEN AC UNIT: THE FIRST STEP 

No matter how your air conditioner froze up, there is an basic – yet critical – step you must do first. You need to get your AC unit thawed. And that starts at your thermostat. 

It is turning the thermostat to OFF. And then turn the fan ON. This will start the defrosting process. 

If it’s a hot day, your AC could be fully thawed in just a couple of hours.  

If the conditioned air is cool and the unit doesn’t freeze up again, you are good to go. If it does freeze up again, turn the air conditioner back OFF and the fan set to ON. Then you will need to call an experienced AC repair technician, like our fabulous HVAC team at Tiger, as you’ve got a bigger problem on your hand.  

6 MAIN REASONS FOR A FROZEN AIR CONDITIONER   

1. Dirty Air Filter 

The most likely cause of a frozen air conditioner coil is not enough air flowing over the evaporator coils. The air that flows over your coils loses its heat to the coils, but if not enough air is flowing, the refrigerant gets too cold and might cause the coils to freeze.  

The leading reading why the airflow could be hampered is that your air filter is dirty. A dirty filter can block or clog airflow and is a common cause for an air conditioning unit to freeze up. 

While the AC unit is thawing out, check the air filter on your furnace. If it’s dark and dirty, replace it even if it’s not on schedule to be replaced yet. Many homeowners do not change their filters as frequently as they should.  

Once your air filter is replaced and the AC unit is thawed out, you should try to turn the AC back on at the thermostat and see if it works now. 

2. Blocked (or closed) return ducts 

There is a common misconception that you should close any vents that you don’t need to save on energy use and cost. That is not the case. The ductwork in your home, including the vents, was designed to work as a system. Closing off too much of this system can cause it not to work correctly. It may be okay to have a few vents closed, but this can cause problems, including a frozen AC unit if you have too many. 

Are any vents in your home closed or obstructed? Check the vents in your home to make sure they are open and not blocked. Move aside any items, including furniture or curtains, covering or blocking the vents.  

3. Low Refrigerant Levels 

Being low on refrigerant (freon) is the main reason why air conditioners freeze up. Often that indicates there is a leak in your system. This is a potentially dangerous problem and should be resolved only by a trained AC technician. 

4. Dirty evaporator coils 

Dirty evaporator coils are another problem that can cause an air conditioner to freeze.  

If there is any buildup on these coils, they won’t be able to absorb the heat it needs to produce cool air for your home. If the filter is clean, and you still have poor airflow, it is likely being caused by a dirty coil. 

Performing annual maintenance on your system should keep this problem from happening. Tiger Heating & Air provides professional AC maintenance and tune-up service. Call us at 361-852-4450 to get a technician scheduled. 

5. Mechanical Failures 

Various mechanical problems can cause an outdoor unit to freeze. An HVAC system involves a lot of components. Perhaps there is a kink in a refrigerant line, or the blower fan is not working. These sorts of mechanical failures can cause the pressure to change in your system and make your air conditioner freeze up. 

Another problem that can cause ice to form on your air conditioner is a broken or malfunctioning blower motor. This part inside your AC makes sure that the fan blows return air over the evaporator coils. If not enough air moves over the coils, your air conditioner will get too cold and freeze up. 

6. Temperature is Cold Outside 

Did you leave your thermostat on COOL during a cold snap? If you are running your AC when the outside temperature dips into the 50s or below, the pressure inside of your system will drop. That is enough to cause a freeze-up of your air conditioner. 

IS THE AC COMPLETELY FIXED? 

If one of the above problems was something you can tackle and fixed your frozen AC, that’s great! However, you are not out of the woods yet. You want to make sure that your air conditioning system doesn’t refreeze. Give it time, and make sure your system remains ice-free. If it freezes up again, that means that whatever troubleshooting step you did was not enough to fix the problem completely. You will need to call for a professional AC repair.  

Tiger Heating & Air is trained and experienced to service any type or model of air conditioner or cooling system. We provide 24/7 service to the entire Corpus Christi area and can be trusted to provide you with friendly, quality service at a fair price. Call on us to fix any AC problem! You can read reviews from people across Corpus Christi on why they say you can’t go wrong with Tiger! 

Call Tiger at (361) 852-4450 and let us how we can help you today! 

Important Tips to Be Safe & Comfortable in a Hot Corpus Christi Summer

We know how a Corpus Christi summer can be a scorcher, and it’s difficult to keep cool throughout the hottest months. Here are some ways to stay cool during these hot days from the Corpus Christi cooling experts at Tiger Heating & Air.

This post is for homeowners who are looking for ways to stay cool during a heatwave. We’ll cover topics like how to keep your house cooler, what clothes you should wear and even suggestions on what to eat. 

8 Steps to Stay Cool

1. Drink water: Dehydration can make you feel worse in the heat. So drink lots of water!
2. Wear light clothing: Light colors will reflect heat away from your body and dark colors absorb it instead. Keep the fabrics thin or loose for maximum breathability as well.
3. Stay out of direct sunlight, especially during the peak hours between 10am to 4pm. If you must be outside, wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun’s rays.
4. Set your thermostat temperature to between 74 – 78 degrees when you’re home and awake. Then set it to be just up a couple degrees when you’re sleeping. Program the temperature to raise to about 86 during the hours no one is home.
5. Keep your home as cool as possible with window shades and fans to circulate air. While it might seem like an energy-saving tool to shut vents to rooms not in great use, be careful not to shut too many. Your home’s entire cooling system was designed to work with the vents open and shutting too many could disrupt the airflow and even damage your home’s air conditioning units.
6. Eat cold foods and drink cold drinks (especially water – see tip #1). Cold food and beverages can help cool down your body.
7. Avoid caffeine and alcohol which can dehydrate you.
8. Take a cool shower or bath. It’s become trendy to take cold showers, as people claim it helps your mental and physical health. A hot Texas summer may be the perfect time to try out cold showers yourself!

We hope this article has been helpful in providing you with some tips and tricks to stay cool during a heatwave. If your AC breaks down, don’t panic! You can call Tiger Heating & Air for emergency AC repair service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Remember to schedule your annual AC maintenance checks early in the year before it turns hot. It will save both time and money by preventing a later AC repair emergency.

Broken AC? Call on Tiger for Repair

Our experts are ready to provide the best customer service possible so give us a call today if you need help staying cool. Our team of experts will be happy to help fix the problem quickly.

And if you’re in the market for air conditioning installation services, we can help.

We know how important it is to keep you and your family safe and comfortable during a heatwave! When you need air conditioning repair, give Tiger a call at 361-852-4450.

Understanding SEER & Texas requirements for air conditioners

Let’s discuss one of the most misunderstood terms about air conditioning – the SEER rating. SEER is one of the most essential factors in determining what AC to purchase, but it is a confusing matter for many homeowners.

At Tiger Heating & Air, we know a well-informed customer is a happy customer with a home that keeps them comfortable for many years to come. So we want to provide you with the most basic (yet important) pieces of information to understand the SEER rating. You will learn why it’s important to understand before making any change to your home’s cooling system.

Why do I need to understand the SEER rating?

The bottom line is that understanding what the SEER rating is can end up saving you money. A home cooling system is a significant investment for your home. You’re will spend thousands of dollars on getting it installed. And then you will continue to spend thousands more on your energy bills. But how much you spend each month depends a lot on the SEER rating of your AC unit. An air-conditioner with a good SEER rating can save you hundreds of dollars on your energy costs each year!

What is the SEER Rating?

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is a measurement of the amount of energy your AC will need to consume in order to operate. SEER is a ratio of how much cool air your system puts out for each unit of energy it consumes. It’s a complex math formula, but it’s all about “tons.” A ton of cooling equals about the energy needed to melt 1 ton of ice over a 24-hour period.

Do I Want a High or Low SEER Rating?

Generally speaking, an AC with a higher SEER rating is better. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient that air conditioner will be. But that doesn’t mean you should simply get the air conditioner with the highest SEER rating there is. You always need to make sure you are getting the perfect system for your home. How high of a SEER rating you should look for depends on a few factors, such as the size of your house and where you live.

What SEER rating is Needed for Corpus Christi Homes?

The U.S. Department of Energy requires all new AC units to meet certain levels of energy efficiency. These levels are determined by the SEER rating.

In 1992, the government enacted the first-ever SEER efficiency standards. Back then, it was common for homeowners to have an AC with a SEER of just 8 or 9. The first SEER rating required all new AC units installed in homes to be at least SEER 10. Despite Texas and other southern states having greater cooling demands than the rest of the country, this SEER 10 minimum rating was for all states.

In 2006, the DOE increased the minimum standard to 13. But regulation changes were on the way, and different climate regions were treated separately.

In 2015, government regulators raised the SEER minimum to 14 for split system central air conditioners for Texas and other states in the country’s Southeastern region. And another SEER change is on its way. Starting in 2023, only ACs with a 15 SEER or higher can be installed.

Back when the first regulations started, some homes had AC units that were as low as 6 SEER. Today, it is not uncommon to see many in the 20s. Tiger Heating & Air are Corpus Christi’s certified Trane Comfort Specialists. We can install a new, efficient Trane air conditioner in your home that range from 14.5 SEER up to 22.

Are you looking for help on determining what new cooling system is right for you? Give Tiger a call at (361) 852-4450, or you can check out Trane’s HVAC Tips & Buying Guide.

How Much Money Can a High SEER Rating Save Me?

Unfortunately, there isn’t an absolute answer. There are various factors that determine a home’s ongoing energy costs, such as the size and amount of insulation. However, increasing your home’s SEER rating by 10 can result in your air conditioner using half as much energy. How much will a higher SEER system save you? See what your current system’s rating is, and you can find out how much money you will save in energy costs with this online calculator.

How To Use the SEER Rating To Shop for a New AC

Knowing how SEER factors into how much energy you use each money makes you better able to compare different air conditioning systems. The SEER rating tells you which units will expend the least amount of energy and save you money on your utility bills.

As we’ve mentioned, SEER isn’t the only factor to consider when purchasing a new air conditioner. Our experienced Tiger Heating & Air AC technicians can help assess your home’s specific needs to help you determine which cooling system and unit is suitable for your home.

With several decades of experience installing air conditioning units in homes across Corpus Christi, you can trust Tiger Heating & Air to find the best home cooling options for you. Call us today at (361) 852-4450.