Have summers in the Pacific Northwest been getting hotter? It sure seems like it – and a reliable A/C is a must-have. At Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinkler Inc, we specialize in air conditioner installation and services in Vancouver, Portland, and the surrounding area.
Whether you’re building a new home or replacing your old air conditioning system, the A/C unit you have installed will impact your comfort level all summer long.
If you need a new air conditioner, expert AC repairs, or routine maintenance, we’ll ensure you get back to enjoying cool, climate-controlled comfort. Call us today for a free estimate on air conditioner services in Portland OR and Vancouver WA.
Our technicians are NATE, EPA, and HVAC Electrical Certified and available 24 hours every day.
Staying cool on a hot day is a great feeling – and it’s good for you. Humans aren’t meant to spend long periods in extreme heat, which is why it’s important to make sure your AC unit is ready for what’s coming.
At Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinkler Inc, we help you get ready with AC installation and replacement services in Vancouver and Portland.
Since 1975, we’ve been the trusted choice for our reliable service and commitment to excellent craftsmanship. We are experts at designing, retrofitting, and adding to existing systems to accommodate any of your comfort needs.
A busted air conditioner can be extremely frustrating, but don’t worry, we’ve got this. Most air conditioning problems can be fixed with a few simple repairs.
It’s no coincidence ACs often break down at the worst possible time. We put the most stress on them during sustained hot periods, so make sure your AC maintenance is up to date.
Energy-efficient air conditioning systems use 20% to 50% less energy than older ones, which can save you a considerable amount in energy costs. Are you ready to make the upgrade?
We sell high-quality thermostats and smart thermostats and provide fast and reliable thermostat installation and repair services.
We have an unwavering commitment to exceptional service, innovation, and client satisfaction, whether you need a routine air conditioner tune-up or you’re dealing with capacitor failure.
Temperatures super hot and can’t seem to stay cool? Here’s our tips for staying cool in a heat wave.
Air conditioning emergencies can happen at any time, often when you least expect them. That’s why Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinkler Inc offers 24/7 emergency AC services in Vancouver WA and the Portland OR Metro Area.
We understand that a malfunctioning air conditioner can quickly lead to discomfort, stress, and even health risks, so we’re always ready to respond to your call.
The last thing you want is for your air conditioner to break down during a scorching hot day. While these malfunctions seem to happen out of nowhere, your air conditioner will often show signs it’s reaching its last leg. These signs include:
A commercial air conditioning system is an integral part of any business. If you’re interested in having a new one installed, you’ll need to find one that can handle your building’s demand, along with professional installation.
Our commercial AC technicians will help you select a new system to suit the specific needs of your building, whether it’s a heat pump or packaged rooftop unit.
Contact Vanport Mechanical & Fire Sprinkler Inc if your air conditioner needs attention. Whether it’s repairs, maintenance, or a brand new installation or replacement, we hope you’ll make us your choice – and see why we’ve been trusted in Portland and Vancouver since 1975.
Click below to leave your information and we will call you back in 30 minutes or less!
We recommend twice a year, typically in the fall before it gets cold enough to use the furnace regularly and in the spring, before you turn your system to cooling. At the very least, have a professional check-up annually.
The typical lifespan for an AC is 12-15 years. And you can maximize the life of your AC unit by staying on top of your routine maintenance.
If you’re shopping for energy efficiency, look for the highest SEER rating. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the air conditioner.
AC units can be retrofitted into any home, if you have existing duct-work the process is fairly simple. If you don’t have existing ductwork a mini split might be the best option for your home.
The answer varies depending on size of filter, how often you use your HVAC system, and your lifestyle. We recommend checking your filter every 30 days and replacing it when needed.
Set the thermostat temperature up to around 80° in case of extreme heat events. Just remember when you come back home it will take time for the house to cool back down, a drop of about 2° per hour is to be expected, even longer if there is a lot of humidity.
Yes, but in the Pacific Northwest, our air conditioning units are not built for extreme heat. It’s important to give your AC unit a rest.
A good rule of thumb is to run your unit no more than 20 degrees cooler than it is outside if you can. When it is 100 and above, try to set your thermostat to 75 or even 80. Try to give your unit a break in the evenings.
Keep it clean and free from obstruction, make sure there is proper air flow around the outdoor unit, keep trees, and shrubs cut back away from the AC unit. Make sure your filters are clean. It is safe to run a sprinkler on your AC unit to help cool the compressor, just don’t use a pressure washer or anything with high enough pressure to bend or damage the outdoor coil fins.
Yes, in fact, running your AC when there is smoke outside can help filter the air inside your home. When there is wildfire smoke outside, it is safe to run your AC when the outside air quality is poor, your AC unit will actually help to filter the air inside your home.
Whatever is most comfortable for you, we recommend not going below 68°, and find 20° cooler than the outdoor temperature to be the most energy efficient.
There are a few possibilities here.
For more information, be sure to check out our troubleshooting article on why your A/C unit is frozen.
If your filters are clogged, this can cause a high static pressure, causing the safety limits to trip and the AC cooling cycle to stop working. There is also:
For more information, check out our troubleshooting article on why air conditioners sometimes blow warm air.
Compressor oil and refrigerant. If you see this, your system has developed a severe leak.
Compressors are noisy by nature, but if your AC is making an unusual noise this could be a sign of failure. When the defrost cycle kicks in your unit will make a loud humming or vibration noise. Rattling noises usually happen when the system is cooling down after a defrost cycle. Unusually clunking or bumping could indicate an issue with the fan motor or the fan blades being off balance.
Why Your A/C Won’t Turn On?
There are a few possibilities why your A/C won’t turn on. Here are some of the most common:
For more information, check out our troubleshooting article on why your A/C won’t turn on.
Why Your A/C Won’t Turn Off?
If your AC won’t turn off, first check your fan setting at the thermostat. The AC may have finished its cycle and may actually be turned off, but if the fan is set to “on” or “Continuous,” it may just be the blower fan in the furnace that is running.