What Are The Warning Signs That Your AC Needs Immediate Attention?
Your air conditioner is at the heart of your home’s comfort during hot weather. When it stops working, your home can quickly become miserably hot, and even dangerously hot. That’s why it’s so important to understand the warning signs of a problem with your air conditioner. Here are some signs that your system needs immediate attention beyond your routine air conditioner tune-up.
1. Weak Airflow
If your air conditioner is running but not putting out much air, you could have an airflow problem. Check the return vents to make sure the system is pulling enough air into the fan to provide normal flow through the house. You should also make sure that your filters have been changed. If those steps don’t help, you could have a leak in the ductwork or an issue with the fan, both of which are AC maintenance issues that call for the assistance of a professional.
2. Warm or Uneven Air
The air from your vents should be at a consistently cold temperature. If it’s not cold or is only cold part of the time, check your filters. Poor airflow through them can reduce the effectiveness of the cooling system. You should also check your breaker box for tripped circuits and reset any that you find. Make sure your thermostat is set on “cool” and is at the desired temperature. If you’re not seeing improvement after that, there could be an issue with the compressor, refrigerant, or other mechanical components that will need to be checked by an expert.
3. Odd Noises
A number of air conditioner issues will cause unusual sounds in your home. Hissing sounds can be the result of a coolant leak or pressure issue, while clicking could indicate trouble with the blower motor. A buzzing or humming sound could be the result of a bad capacitor or many other issues. The only thing you can really check as a homeowner is making sure there are no obstructions around the vents or returns. If you don’t find anything like that, you should contact a professional for ac maintenance.
4. Strange Odors
An important red flag here is any type of hot or burning smell. If you detect that, you should turn off the breaker to your ac system immediately and call a professional. Other odors can include moldy smells from dirty filters or mold in the ductwork, as well as rotted odors that could suggest there is a dead rodent in the system. Some of these odors can also indicate refrigerant leaks, so getting air conditioner maintenance done quickly is important for avoiding more serious problems.
5. Frequent or Short Cycling
If your ac seems to shut off too quickly after starting, it may be short cycling. Short cycling occurs when the unit detects an issue with its ability to cool the home and experiences some type of strain that triggers it to deactivate. This can be caused by low refrigerant levels, clogged filters, and issues with the thermostat. Once again, clean filters can help alleviate this problem, but if not, you may be dealing with something that will require professional air conditioning maintenance.
6. Ice on the Indoor or Outdoor Coil
If you see ice on your heat pump or outdoor ac unit, something is wrong. Once again, replace your filters, as the poor air flow can cause the unit to ice up. Check for obstructed vents and returns too. After eliminating those possibilities, you’ll need a professional to check things out. It could be an issue with refrigerant, the thermostat, or other components.
7. Rising Energy Bills
If this year’s electric bill seems a lot higher than last year’s, do a little checking. If your bill shows steadily more usage over time, your air conditioner could be to blame. Often a good ac tune-up can improve the system’s efficiency and get those bills back in line. You should also make sure there are no leaks around windows or doors, such as bad thresholds or damaged windowpanes. Once again, clean filters and unrestricted air flow are important too!
8. Water Leaks or Rust Stains
Your air handler should properly manage all the condensation that it generates. If water is running out of the indoor unit, there could be obstructions in the drain lines. If that water is rusty, you may be dealing with some corroded parts that will need professional inspection and possibly replacement. While your outdoor unit may generate a little bit of a drip during very humid conditions, it could also have problems. There may be obstructions in the condensate line, damage to the evaporator coil, or problems with the refrigerant level. Because both segments of your system involve high voltage and fragile components, your first step should be to contact a qualified contractor.
9. Thermostat or Control Failures
A homeowner should be able to control the entire ac system from the thermostat, including moving it to the “cool” setting in the spring and back to “heat” in the fall. You should be able to control the system fan and adjust the temperature without any further steps. The display of the thermostat may indicate problems with the unit, so anytime you see error messages, flashing displays, or any kind of unusual readings on your thermostat, contact a technician right away.
Why Fast Action Pays Off
Air conditioners don’t fix themselves, and problems only get worse. Have an AC tune-up checklist to make sure your AC runs smoothly. The longer you wait to have a qualified technician check your system, the more problems there will be. One failed component can increase the workload on others and damage them as well, so you need to get help right away if you experience any of these issues.
If you’re seeing problems with your system or just want to schedule an air conditioning tune-up, contact our team at Lakeland One-Hour Air Conditioning. We’ll be glad to address any issues you’re experiencing with your system as well as guiding you on setting up a regular schedule for ac maintenance.