serving London, ON since 1955
Do you have questions about your home’s air conditioning system? Salmon Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning has been helping London, Ontario homeowners stay comfortable since 1955. Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about air conditioner sizing, maintenance, service calls, icing problems, airflow issues and seasonal start-up procedures.
Choosing the correct air conditioner size is one of the most important decisions when replacing your cooling system. An oversized unit may short cycle and fail to properly remove humidity, while an undersized unit may struggle to keep your home comfortable during hot summer weather. Proper sizing should be based on a heat-load calculation rather than the size of your previous unit.
A homeowner with a 1,900 sq. ft. home calls about poor cooling performance from a 1.5-ton air conditioner. Although the builder’s engineering calculations met code requirements, Bill explains that HVAC systems can legally be sized anywhere from 80% to 125% of the calculated cooling load. As a result, the homeowner’s unit is likely on the smaller end of the acceptable range.
Bill notes that the system performs adequately on mild days but struggles during hotter weather because it is tightly sized rather than malfunctioning. He advises that routine maintenance won’t significantly improve cooling performance. Instead, he recommends running the furnace fan continuously and keeping the air conditioner operating to reduce indoor humidity, which can make the home feel more comfortable even if the temperature remains slightly higher.
If an air conditioner keeps up on mild days but struggles on very hot days, the issue may be system sizing rather than a mechanical problem. Managing humidity can often improve comfort without replacing the equipment.
Don’t wait for a hot day to test your air conditioner. Run it early in the season to ensure it’s operating correctly.
In this short radio segment, Bill discusses the importance of testing your air conditioner before the hot summer weather arrives. He explains that even if you haven’t needed cooling yet because of mild temperatures, you should still turn the system on and let it run for a couple of hours to confirm everything is working properly. Waiting until the first heat wave to discover a problem can leave you without cooling when HVAC companies are at their busiest.
Don’t wait for a hot day to test your air conditioner. Run it early in the season to ensure it’s operating correctly so you’re not caught off guard when you need it most.
Regular air conditioner maintenance helps keep systems operating efficiently, reduces energy consumption, and can prevent performance issues.
In this discussion, Paul and Bill Salmon explain that regular air conditioner maintenance helps keep systems operating efficiently, reduces energy consumption, and can prevent performance issues. Simple maintenance tasks such as cleaning the outdoor condenser, checking refrigerant levels, inspecting belts on older equipment, and ensuring proper airflow can improve both cooling capacity and efficiency. They also note that rising electricity costs make routine maintenance even more valuable.
Bill emphasizes that air conditioners work by transferring heat from inside the home to the outdoors. Dirty coils, clogged filters, and debris-covered condenser fins make this heat transfer less effective, causing the system to work harder and use more electricity. Keeping both indoor and outdoor components clean is one of the most important aspects of maintaining cooling performance.
While some problems are simple, such as loose wires or dirty equipment, one of the most important issues technicians check for is low refrigerant caused by leaks.
In this discussion, Paul Salmon explains some of the most common issues discovered during air conditioner maintenance visits. While some problems are simple, such as loose wires or dirty equipment, one of the most important issues technicians check for is low refrigerant caused by leaks. Even a small loss of refrigerant can reduce an air conditioner’s efficiency and cooling capacity, causing it to run longer and struggle to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
Paul also notes that outdoor air conditioning units can be affected by insects, rodents, dirt, and debris. Mice may build nests inside units during the winter and damage electrical components. Regular cleaning and inspections can help identify these issues before they lead to costly repairs.
If your air conditioner is freezing up, running constantly, leaking water, or struggling to cool your home, contact Salmon Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning for professional service in London.
Air conditioner icing is often caused by mechanical issues such as low airflow or refrigerant problems.
In this segment, Bill Salmon explains that while air conditioner icing is often caused by mechanical issues such as low airflow or refrigerant problems, homeowner operation can sometimes contribute as well. One common mistake is setting the thermostat excessively low, such as 16°C, in an attempt to cool the home faster. Another is closing too many supply registers, which restricts airflow and can cause the evaporator coil to freeze. Running the air conditioner when outdoor temperatures become unusually cool can also create icing conditions.
Bill stresses that if you notice ice forming on your air conditioner, the first step is to turn the system off and allow it to thaw completely. Once thawed, homeowners should check that the air filter is clean and all vents are open before restarting the system. If the unit continues to ice up, professional service is recommended because an underlying mechanical problem is likely present.
Since the furnace blower is responsible for moving cooled air through the home, the air conditioning system relies on the furnace having power and operating properly. If the furnace loses power, the air conditioner will not function correctly.
In this segment, Bill Salmon explains that what appears to be an air conditioner problem is often actually related to the furnace. Since the furnace blower is responsible for moving cooled air through the home, the air conditioning system relies on the furnace having power and operating properly. If the furnace loses power, the air conditioner will not function correctly.
Bill highlights several common issues homeowners can check before calling for service. These include ensuring the furnace power switch hasn’t been turned off, confirming the furnace access panel is properly installed, and checking that a breaker or fuse hasn’t tripped. He notes that guests sometimes accidentally switch off the furnace power because the switch resembles a standard light switch. Rapidly adjusting the thermostat up and down can also cause the air conditioner compressor to trip a breaker.
Before scheduling an air conditioning repair, check:
These simple checks can often identify the cause of a non-working air conditioner and may save the cost of a service visit.
While it may seem logical that closing vents on the main floor will push more cool air upstairs, restricting too many supply vents can reduce overall airflow and negatively affect system performance.
In this discussion, Bill Salmon explains why homeowners should be cautious about closing heating and cooling vents in an attempt to force more air to the second floor of a two-storey home. While it may seem logical that closing vents on the main floor will push more cool air upstairs, restricting too many supply vents can reduce overall airflow and negatively affect system performance. Air conditioning systems require a balance between the amount of air being supplied and the amount returning to the system.
Bill notes that every home is different. Some homes may have enough supply vents to allow a few to be closed, while others already have minimal airflow and should not have any vents shut. Rather than restricting airflow, he recommends running the furnace fan continuously during hot weather. This helps circulate air throughout the home, reduces temperature differences between floors, and improves comfort on the second storey even after the air conditioner has cycled off.
If your upstairs feels significantly warmer than your main floor, try setting your thermostat fan to “On” instead of “Auto” during hot weather. Continuous air circulation can often reduce temperature differences by several degrees without restricting vents or modifying the ductwork.
Blocked condensate drains are a common maintenance issue that can lead to water damage.
In this segment, Bill Salmon discusses several common air conditioning issues that are often discovered during routine maintenance. One of the most overlooked problems is a blocked condensate drain. As an air conditioner removes humidity from the air, water collects on the evaporator coil and drains away through a condensate line. Over time, these drains can become clogged, causing water to back up into the furnace and potentially damage expensive components.
Bill also highlights the importance of keeping air filters clean. A dirty filter can restrict airflow, leading to dirt buildup on the blower and evaporator coil. As these components become dirty, the air conditioner becomes less efficient and may experience cooling problems, including icing. He explains that dirt interferes with the system’s ability to transfer heat, forcing it to work harder and use more energy.
The biggest challenges homeowners face when choosing a plumbing, heating, or air conditioning contractor: knowing who to trust.
In this interview, Bill Salmon discusses one of the biggest challenges homeowners face when choosing a plumbing, heating, or air conditioning contractor: knowing who to trust. He explains that a company’s reputation is built over time and that long-term success depends on consistently providing honest service and making customers happy. As a local business with decades of experience and a sizeable team, Salmon Plumbing has earned trust through reliability and integrity.
Bill recommends that homeowners start by asking neighbours, friends, or family members for referrals. Personal recommendations can often provide valuable insight into a contractor’s quality of work and customer service. He also stresses the importance of being cautious about choosing a contractor based solely on the lowest price. In his experience, unusually low-priced work can sometimes result in poor service, incomplete repairs, or difficulty getting follow-up support when problems arise.
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We’d like to thank our customers and London Free Press readers for voting Salmon Plumbing...
We’d like to thank our customers and London Free Press readers for voting Salmon Plumbing...
To serve our customers better, we restrict our service area to the City of London and the immediate surrounding towns. That way, one of our red trucks is never far from your home when we dispatch.
We know every part of the city. We’ll probably have a pretty good idea of what to expect, before we arrive at your home.
