Signs It’s Time for Air Conditioner Repairs or Upgrades

Regular Maintenance Prevents Future Expensive Fixes

A fully-functional heating and cooling system in your home helps you maintain your comfort and keep your home in its best condition. In the summer, your air conditioner not only keeps you cool, but it also removes humidity from your home, which, if left unchecked could cause damage to drywall, furniture, and other finishes. 

Your air conditioner and the condenser unit outside will give you warning signs that they’re in need of maintenance, repair, or upgrades — you need only to pay attention. 

Moisture from Your Air Conditioner

If your home feels humid even with your air conditioner on, then that means your air conditioning unit needs maintenance. An annual tune-up can help prevent issues stemming from humidity.

A small amount of condensation around your residential air conditioning unit is generally quite normal. However, if there are excessive amounts of moisture, your unit may have a refrigerant leak. Some refrigerants, especially those used in older air conditioners, are poisonous when inhaled or consumed. This type of leak requires intervention from an HVAC technician.

A water leak, while still an issue that needs to be corrected, is not inherently dangerous, but can be prevented and repaired with proper maintenance and care.

A/C Unit is Blowing Hot Air or None at All

If your air conditioner never reaches a cool temperature, or if your system is on, but it isn’t blowing air at all, you need to call a heating and cooling specialist right away.

Numerous issues could cause these symptoms, like a malfunctioning blower, a clog in the system, frozen evaporator coils, or leaking ductwork. A pro can diagnose the problem and get started on your air conditioner repairs, so your home can feel comfortable once again. The longer you wait, it is possible the problem will worsen and become a much more expensive fix — or an altogether replacement of your equipment.

Your A/C is Continuously Running

Your air conditioner and thermostat should be in sync with one another, and only allow the system to kick on when it reaches a certain temperature in your home. If your air conditioner is running non-stop, you could have a problem with your thermostat not properly communicating to your HVAC system. Or it could be another issue entirely.

To make sure you aren’t missing a bigger issue, call your heating and cooling expert in to take a look at what’s going on and correct the problem. A constantly running air conditioner will result in a huge electric bill, so it’s wise to get it fixed as soon as possible.

Depending on the price and expansiveness of the repair, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a whole new air conditioning unit.

Odors and Noises from Your Air Conditioner are Not Normal

A functional air conditioner should never put off a bad odor, nor should any alarming sounds emit from your unit. Unfamiliar noises like scraping, grinding, squeaking, or even loud banging sounds indicate that your unit is in need of repairs.Bad smells, like mildew or mold, indicates that your unit is holding moisture somewhere. Mold could be hiding in the machine itself, or in the ductwork. Cleaning your ducts removes years’ worth of build-up and helps sweeten the smell of your home. A certified air conditioning technician will be able to determine exactly what is causing unpleasant smells and remove them at the source.

Taking Care of Your HVAC Equipment

Your heating and cooling technician can walk you through everything you need to do to maintain your air conditioning equipment. If you are unsure, ask them for a quick run-down of their tips for what you can do at home to extend the life of your HVAC.