10 Signs It’s Time To Get On The Phone With An AC Repair Company | Fort Worth, TX
Whenever you hear something weird or feel that your AC unit is not performing the way it should be, you can start questioning whether you need to call an AC repair company or not. NO one wants to make that phone call, even more, if you are wrong and nothing is actually wrong. We get that most people would rather wait and see, but often this approach can result in more damage. With that in mind, we created this guide to help break down when you really do need to make sure you talk to an air conditioning repair company about the health of your AC system.
Sudden Odd Noises
First up on the list are odd noises that don’t seem to have any notable cause. There is never a good reason for your AC unit to make noise, but there are some noises that are more concerning than others. With that in mind, anytime you hear an odd noise, it is a pretty safe bet that you will need AC repair. If your AC system is working the way it should, then the most you should hear is the gentle hum of the air. Anything else is a sign that something is breaking down or there is a component loose inside of your unit.
Some sounds, in particular, indicate even more trouble. For instance, if you hear a whistling or hissing noise, this can indicate that there is a dangerous build-up of air. Other concerning sounds include banging or knocking. Once again, remember that no sound is good if it comes from your AC unit and deserves closer investigation. A local AC repair company can help you get to the bottom of what is going on with your AC.
AC Thermostat Won’t Respond
Another clear sign that something is going on with your AC system is if your thermostat is not correctly reading the temperature in the air. The easiest way to notice this is if your thermostat says that it is cool in your home, but you can feel how hot it is. An independent thermometer is a great way to test if something is off with your thermostat. If the temperatures match, then the problem is somewhere else, but if the temperature is not the same, then you know there is an issue with your thermostat that will require AC repair.
Sometimes the issue can be as quick to fix as changing the batteries. Many people don’t realize that if the batteries die in their thermostats, so will the thermostat. The other thing you can check is that your thermostat is on cool and not fan. If you check out both of these and they don’t provide you with an answer, then it is time to look at actually booking AC repair. Your thermostat is like the brain of your air conditioning unit, so if it isn’t working right, you will never achieve a cool home.
Poor Airflow
Poor airflow is an indication that something is wrong with either the ductwork in your home or the fan on your AC unit. Most of the time, you notice this when it seems like there is hardly any airflow near a vent. If you only notice decreased airflow in one vent, then this is probably a localized issue with your air duct. In this case, there is probably something obstructing the ductwork, and a simple air duct cleaning service will be enough to restore airflow to your home. Any AC repair company should be able to help you with this.
On the other hand, if you notice that there is poor airflow in multiple air vents around your home, then you probably have a bigger problem. In this case, it most likely is related to the fan in your AC unit not pushing enough air through your home to come out of your vents with the same force. In this situation, your AC system cannot keep the air cool in your home since it is coming out in smaller amounts. Before you run up your energy bill, call an AC repair company to get a solution to the problem.
Dust Is Everywhere
Another surprising sign that it might be time for some help from an AC repair company is if you notice that there is dust all over your home. Most people don’t automatically correlate dust with their AC units, but believe it or not, sometimes your AC unit can be the reason for dust. This is because your ductwork is part of your HVAC system. Most people forget that because it is hidden deep in the underbelly of your home, but it is.
If your air ducts are not properly maintained, then they can collect dust that continues to push out into the air every time your AC cycles. You can continue to clean your home and remove dust, but every time your AC system cycles, it will be pushed back into the air and settle on your furniture and decor pieces. When it gets to this point, the only thing that will help is calling an AC repair company to schedule a duct cleaning service.
Energy Bills Keep Rising
It is no secret that energy bills are slowly rising everywhere, but you should notice a gradual incline in your energy bills. If you receive a bill that shows your cooling costs have doubled or tripled in one billing period, this is a sign that your AC unit is no longer working properly. As HVAC units age, they start to become less energy-efficient, but you should never notice this happening practically overnight. This is a clear sign that you need AC repair.
Sometimes a broken part or a component can make your AC unit work twice as hard, resulting in high bills. Certain things like rapid cycling or a broken thermostat can also push your AC unit to run more, resulting in higher than normal bills. The bottom line is that if your energy bill is too high, you need to investigate why, and the best place to start with that is often with AC repair.
Short Cycling
One of the main reasons why residents see the giant jump in their energy bills that is noted above is because of something called short cycling. Short cycling, also sometimes called rapid cycling, is when your AC unit turns itself rapidly on and off. This can occur for a number of reasons, but every single one of them will require AC repair in order to fix.
The most energy-intensive part of an AC unit running is when it first flips on. Therefore, if your AC is flipping on repeatedly all day at a much higher rate than usual, you will consume twice as much energy in your home. Even worse, this will cause a lot of wear and tear on your unit, which can significantly shorten its lifespan. With that in mind, if you notice that your unit is frequently cycling, it may be time to get some help.
It’s Humid Inside
When you are outside of your home, you expect it to be hot and humid during the summer months. In fact, you expect it to be downright unbearable. However, you do not expect to have to deal with humidity levels inside of your home. Therefore, if you are sitting inside your home and notice that you still feel sticky and warm, there is something going on with your AC unit that demands AC repair. You don’t want to pay high energy costs just to be miserable still.
Most of the time, when there is a humidity issue, something is malfunctioning inside of your AC unit. Part of its job should be to remove humidity from the air. Therefore, if there is still humidity in the air, you know something has gone array. Instead of waiting for things to get worse, consult a professional to help you get to the bottom of the situation. One call for AC repair is all you need to relax in your home again.
Odd Odors from Your AC
There are two odors that you never want to smell near your AC system or your air vents: natural gas or electrical burning smells. Many people don’t think about natural gas because they associate a furnace with natural gas and not an AC system, but your AC system is part of the HVAC system, and you can experience a gas leak any time of the year. Gas can still leak even if your furnace is not on, so if you notice the sulfuric smell of gas coming out of your air vents you need to call for AC repair right away.
The other major issue is an electrical burning smell, which often indicates that there is a wiring issue in your AC unit. That burning smell can be an indicator that something is burned out or a wire is exposed, and if left unaddressed could lead to a house fire. You don’t want to find yourself in this situation, so if you notice either of these odors, you need to get an AC repair company into your home to get to the bottom of the issues.
Leaks Near Your Unit
Another major issue that you should never ignore is a leak near your AC unit. Some people make the mistake of thinking that if there is a leak near their AC unit, it must just be moisture or condensation. However, there should never be enough if your AC works appropriately to form a noticeable puddle. If you can see something leaking, then the only thing it can be is refrigerant, which constitutes an emergency repair.
Refrigerant, also known as coolant, is the chemical that cools down the air as it goes through your AC system, but it is highly toxic to humans and pets. Therefore, you cannot take a leak lightly. The first thing you need to do is make sure that no one can get near it, and then you need to call for AC repair. An HVAC technician can take a close look at where the leak is coming from and then offer a fitting repair. They can also refill the refrigerant if you have lost a large amount before discovering the leak.
Ice on Your Outdoor Unit
Finally, if you see ice anywhere on your outdoor unit, this is your sign that you need AC repair immediately. While your AC’s job is to cool your home, it should never get cool enough that ice is forming. When you think about how warm it can get in Fort Worth, this can actually seem like an impossible task. The good news is that if you catch the problem fast enough, it can be repaired.
Usually, this happens when refrigerant can leak out of the evaporator coils. Your goal is to get an AC repair company to look at the coils and remove the ice and fix the leak before the coils break. At this point, you will have no choice but to replace your coils, so you want to stay on top of the issue. Remember, there is no good reason to see ice outside on your unit.
Are you worried that your air conditioner is not functioning the way it should be? Contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth to schedule a repair visit.
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