10 Signs That You Need to Book an Air Conditioning Service Call | Fort Worth, TX
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Most people take their air conditioning systems for granted, but in Fort Worth, TX this is not something you want to be guilty of doing. Getting caught without A/C in your home on a hot summer day will leave you and your family a hot sweaty mess. Depending on the temperature outside, it could even be a health emergency. This is just one reason why you should have a routine air conditioning service call on the books, but unfortunately, many people ignore their A/C systems until it is too late.
It’s easy to get distracted by life, and it may seem like a hassle to take time off work for an air conditioning service call, however, it is even more of a hassle to have your entire system break down on you. Usually, an HVAC system does not just stop working. There are signs, but busy homeowners tend to miss them. It is always cheaper to be proactive about proper air conditioning maintenance and scheduling air conditioning service visits in Fort Worth, TX versus playing catch up later. Many small repairs grow larger and more expensive when they are ignored for a long time.
If you are unsure of whether or not it’s time to have your AC looked at, you may want to read over some of the most common warning signs. Some are simple mistakes that many homeowners are guilty of, others are bright red warning signs that your A/C system may breakdown on you soon if you don’t call and schedule an air conditioning service call.
Your Home Feels Warm Despite the A/C Running
Before your air conditioning system breaks down fully it will likely stop working as efficiently. If you start to notice that your house feels warmer than usual you may want to call and schedule Fort Worth, TX air conditioning service. Another similar indication is if your system is cycling more often than usual. This is a signal that your HVAC system is working harder than usual to provide the same amount of cooling. Once it stops working, this is a clear sign that you need an air conditioning service by a trained technician in Fort Worth, TX. Some people deal with the difference by dropping the thermostat down a few degrees. This may work in the short term, but it doesn’t fix the problem and the band-aid will not last long..
Your HVAC System Is New But Your Thermostat Is Old
The most obvious problem with an old thermostat is that it may not work correctly. If your house feels too cold or too warm there is a chance that your thermostat is not properly measuring the temperature in your home. The best way to check this is by placing a thermometer by your thermostat for a couple of hours. Check back on it sporadically throughout the day and see if the temperature on your thermostat matches your thermometer. If it doesn’t, then you know it’s time to upgrade your thermostat and call for an air conditioning service. There are other reasons to consider upgrading your thermostat as well. A smart thermostat can help you control your A/C much better and can help you reduce your utility bills in the process. There are many versions of smart thermostats available now that can integrate with the smart devices in your homes such as Google Home, Amazon Echo, or Apple devices. Your local HVAC professional can talk you through the process of upgrading your thermostat and offer you some valuable recommendations if you call them for an air conditioning service.
Your Cooling Bills Are Outrageous
Speaking of energy costs, if your energy bill is astronomical this is probably a sign that you need to schedule an air conditioning service visit. While you can expect your energy bills to rise in the summer due to the hot Texan heat, you should have a general idea of how much you pay each summer. If your bills are much higher than your normal figure it’s time to check out your A/C system and make sure that it’s running efficiently. Many times a simple air conditioning service and a filter change can help maximize the efficiency of an HVAC system. Many variables can be causing your A/C system to work overtime, so its best to let a professional HVAC expert assess the situation. Getting to the bottom of the issue quickly can help you reduce costs all summer.
It’s Been a Long Time Since You Have Scheduled Any A/C Maintenance
The above sign becomes even more imperative if it has been a long time since you have had your air conditioner service tune-up. High utility bills combined with a system that has never been cleaned are a clear indication that dirt and debris have built up within the A/C system and is blocking its ability to run efficiently. It’s easy to get busy and forget about your home air conditioning service, but the longer you wait the more you will end up paying in reality. It is much cheaper to be proactive and have your A/C cleaned then waiting until the debris causes a part to rust or break. At this point, you will need an emergency air conditioning service which will be much more expensive and certainly less convenient for you.
The Airflow Through Your Vents Is Low
Have you noticed that when you stand near an A/C vent it hardly feels like cold air is coming through? If the situation is the same for every vent in your home then it’s time to call for air conditioning service because there is likely something wrong with your blower. On the other hand, if the problem is isolated to one or two vents then this may be an indication that there is something wrong with your ductwork. An expert can take a clear look at the situation to determine what is reducing your airflow. Keep in mind that low airflow probably means your system has to work twice as hard to cool your home which results in higher energy costs. As you may have noticed, almost every potential sign of an A/C problem also points to higher energy costs which just keep building up. This is why it is so important to have your HVAC system undergo air conditioning service on a regular basis..
Poor Air Quality Inside of Your Home
Does it seem like you have just as many breathing issues inside of your home as you do outside? Or perhaps you have more breathing issues when you are home and just laying around. If you have seasonal allergies that don’t feel any better when you’re home then you may have an issue with the air quality within your home. You shouldn’t be sneezing, wheezing, and coughing while inside your home. In addition, you may want to check the humidity in your home. Ideally, your A/C system can keep it regulated outside of areas like your basement or attic, but if it’s not doing its job it may be too humid or dry which can also aggravate your breathing. While every home is different, an HVAC company can offer some recommendations that include duct cleaning, air sealing, duct sealing, insulation, whole-house humidifiers, and general duct repair during an air conditioning service call.
Your Air Conditioning System Has a Leak
If there is any type of leak in your home you need to call a plumber right away, but if the leak is coming from your air conditioning system you need to promptly call for air conditioning service. Your A/C system should never be leaking. Many people will try to be hopeful and write it off as condensation, but the leak can be a much larger problem to deal with. Even heavy condensation does not present as a leak in most scenarios. If it is a noticeable leak, there is a good chance that there is a problem with the refrigerant in your A/C. This can be a serious problem and needs to be addressed right away by an air conditioning service professional. You should never hesitate to call for help when you see a leak because choosing to ignore it can be costly and in some cases also unsafe. This is even more true with small children and pets in the home.
Use Your Ceiling Fan
While this one isn’t really a sign that you need to call for service, it is a common mistake that can help you save money on your energy bills. Many people don’t realize how much your ceiling fans can help you save money on air conditioning costs. When you are home, you should always use your ceiling fan to help circulate cool air around the room you are in. This will not lower the temperature in the room, but the wind they produce will make you feel cooler. The end result is that you may be able to turn up your A/C by a few degrees if used in conjunction with your fan. Every degree higher that you can set your A/C will save you money on your energy bills. Thus, if you haven’t tried it yet, pop your ceiling fans on while home and in a room. If you don’t have a ceiling fan in the rooms where your family spends the most time, you may want to consider investing in one.
Your A/C Is Short Cycling
Short cycling is the term for when your HVAC system starts, runs briefly, stops, and then starts again. This is a clear problem because it means that something is wrong with the way your A/C system is assessing the temperature in your home. For some reason, it thinks that it has reached the intended temperature, but after kicking off it quickly realizes it hasn’t and kicks on again. This process repeats until the problem is fixed causing a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on your HVAC system. Turning on and off is one of the most tedious tasks for an HVAC system, so the more it does so the more wear it will cause until eventually a part will break down or wear out. At this point, you have an even larger problem to contend with. In addition to the extra wear, turning on repeatedly is a very energy-consuming task. Therefore, if your system is turning on dozens of extra times a day you will consume large amounts of extra energy which in turn will hike up your energy bills every month.
Suspicious Noises Are Coming from the A/C System
Some air conditioning systems make a slight humming noise while they are operating which is completely normal. However, you should not hear any other noise coming from your A/C system. If you start to notice that your HVAC system makes a knocking noise when it turns on or a banging noise from time to time you need to call your local Fort Worth, TX HVAC technician and schedule an air conditioning service. HVAC systems don’t just start to make noises out of the blue if there is a noise coming from your system it is an indication that something is wrong and needs to be fixed. The longer you wait the more costly the repair will likely be. Different noises indicate different issues with your air conditioning system, so if possible try to record the sound so that you can play it for your HVAC technician. This will help them diagnose the problem a bit quicker and point them towards the right part.
If any of the above are familiar or concerning to you, then it is time to contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth in Fort Worth, TX. One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating is a professional HVAC company that has been helping residents of Tarrant County with their air conditioning issues since 1988. They are skilled in air conditioning service, replacement, and repair and can offer you quick and efficient air conditioning solutions today.