During the summer months, your air conditioner becomes your most important appliance. If your air conditioner is not running properly, it can be impossible to be comfortable in the house on a hot day. The best way for you to keep your air conditioner running properly and as efficiently as possible is to have it tuned up and inspected every year.
The professionals at DFW AC Service will come to your home to make sure that the unit is running properly and that it doesn’t need to be repaired. The best time to have the air conditioner inspected and maintained is in the spring, right before cooling season begins.
It is also important that you are able to recognize the signs that your air conditioner needs to be repaired. If you are unable to recognize the signs and the problem is allowed to persist, it can result in a very expensive and inconvenient breakdown when you need the air conditioner the most. Below is a list of the symptoms that you should look out for.
No Cool Air Coming From the Vents
The most obvious sign that there is something wrong with the air conditioner is that the air from the vents is not as cool as usual or if there is no cool air coming out at all. If this happens, the unit’s compressor could be malfunctioning. It could also be that the refrigerant in the unit is low. Either way, you would need to contact a professional to get your system up and running again.
Poor Air Flow
If you find that the air flow in some rooms is weak and stronger in other rooms, there could be dirt and debris built up in the vents or in the ductwork. This is a problem that should only be repaired by a professional HVAC tech. If you attempt to clean the vents and the ducts on your own, you could end up doing more harm than good.
Thermostat Issues
In some cases, the problem may not be with the unit itself but with the thermostat. If you find that you are constantly needing to adjust the thermostat to keep the home comfortable, there could be something wrong with the thermostat. Another way to tell if your thermostat is malfunctioning is if certain areas of the house are very cold while others are not cold enough.
If you have an older thermostat and the HVAC tech finds that it is faulty, you should consider having it replaced with a new, programmable thermostat. Newer thermostats allow you to set the temperature to automatically raise and lower based on your routine.
For example, you can set the temperature to rise before you go to work because you won’t need the home to be extremely cool while you aren’t home. You can also set the thermostat to lower before you get home. This will ensure that the home is at a comfortable temperature when you arrive. A programmable thermostat is a great idea because it can save you hundreds of dollars each year in energy costs.
Strange Noises
Most air conditioning units make noise when the system is kicking on and off. However, if you notice that the unit is making a squealing sound or a grinding sound, it is a sign that there is something wrong inside the unit. If the problem is not repaired, it can result in an expensive breakdown during the hottest time of the year.
Strange Smells
When you turn on your air conditioner for the first time of the season, you might notice a musty or dusty smell. These smells often go away after the first few minutes of running the air conditioner. If a musty smell remains in the home, there could be mold inside the ductwork or inside the unit itself.
This can make the air quality in the home dangerous, therefore, it should be looked at by a professional immediately. If you notice a foul, pungent odor when you turn your air conditioner on, the unit’s wire insulation may have burned out. This should also be repaired by a professional as soon as possible.
Moisture Around the Outdoor Unit
If it has not rained recently and there is moisture around your outdoor unit, you should call an HVAC tech immediately. If there is a loose or broken hose, it can cause water to leak from the unit. The moisture could also be due to a refrigerant leak. This can be very dangerous to children or pets that are playing in the area. Because of this, you should not wait to call a professional.
Regular inspection and maintenance of your air conditioner is very important for the unit’s health. It is just as important that you are able to recognize the signs that your unit is in need of repair.
If you don’t have the necessary repairs made right away, it can result in a complete breakdown which is not only very expensive but also inconvenient. The professionals at DFW AC Service can prepare your air conditioner for cooling season and also make any necessary repairs.