Ricochet Construction is a Dallas-area leader in all forms of repair and installation, for both homes and multi-family rental properties, large apartment communities, and condominiums that host 1,000+ rental units.

In the following article, we will briefly cover major issues that come up when dealing with repairs or original installation of your HVAC system.

Texas is one of the most intense areas in country for summer heat, and air conditioning systems must be able to both overcome the high temperatures of the Texas summer, and have the durability to run often 24 hours a day for months on end. This kind of demand can often overwhelm an HVAC system that isn’t properly chosen and maintained.

While many people think they need to call a specialized heating or air conditioning service to install or repair their HVAC system, the truth is that a general construction and remodeling company such as Ricochet Construction is often well-prepared and highly experienced in heating and cooling systems, and during high demand seasons is often more available -- and even more affordable -- that specialized HVAC companies.

Also, Ricochet concentrates on large jobs for big communities, meaning we have the skill, know-how, and crew to take on HVAC projects in 1000+ rental unit properties. Smaller HVAC specialists often cannot scale up to the size of crew needed in order to deal with large commercial properties.

Air conditioning units are comprised of two systems: there is a condenser or condensing unit that is located outside the building itself, and an A-coil -- also known as an evaporator coil -- that is located in the furnace or handler inside the building. The evaporator coil gathers heat from inside the building and funnels it to the outside condensing unit. The condenser fan pushes air through the coil in order to remove the heat that’s present in the air. That’s that basic process of all air conditioning systems.

The problems often occur in the parts around the coil itself. Small repair jobs can include replacing the contacter for the system, the start or run capacitors, and the fan motor on the condenser. If the problem is in any of these secondary parts, the fix is often quick and fairly inexpensive. If the compressor or evaporator coil needs replaced, the time and expense increase quickly.

There are things that you can check on your own that might be easily fixed, or which will at least let you tell a professional service more accurately what is happening with your system. If you are not getting cold air through your system, or it isn’t fully cooling your space, first make sure at all the registers are fully open and unimpeded. This can be done easily by visually inspecting all the ceiling and floor registers to make sure there are no obstructions impeding the air flow.

Secondly, make sure the air filter itself is clean and not impeding air flow. It is very common for both homeowners and apartment renters to forget to replace air filters on a regular basis, and this can create significant drag on a system, raising energy bills and overloading the unit’s motor.

You can also clean condenser coils fairly easily. There are many videos on YouTube that can show you how to do this quickly and safely.

If these attempts at basic maintenance don’t work, then you likely need to call an HVAC professional who can diagnose the problem, identify the issue, and repair it in an efficient and timely manner.

HVAC repairs are essential due to the fact that a space quickly becomes unlivable if not cooled off in Texas summers. At Ricochet Construction, we specialize in large scale repairs to apartment and condo communities in the Dallas metropolitan area. We are well-equipped and fully experienced in HVAC repair, and can inspect your properties and advise you on exactly what repairs you need, and how long they should take. We have contracted with numerous owners and HOA’s, and can supply a long list of satisfied customers to give references as to the quality, timeliness, and professionalism of our work. Contact us any time to find out more!