5 Signs It’s Time To Call An Air Conditioning Service | Fort Worth, TX
Summers in Texas are very hot, and it’s not uncommon for the temperature to reach 95 degrees on most days. When it gets this hot outside, many people spend more time indoors with their air conditioners running to escape the heat.
If your air conditioner isn’t working correctly, your home won’t stay cool, and the temperature inside can reach 105 degrees on a 90-degree day. Your family will be at risk for heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke when it gets this hot, so it’s essential your air conditioner works correctly.
There are several signs that your air conditioner isn’t working correctly. If your air conditioner experiences any of the following problems, it’s best to call an air conditioning service.
#1 The Unit Produces Warm Air
Your air conditioner is designed to produce cold air, and if you feel warm air blowing from the vents, you may need to call an air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX. First, you should check a few things to avoid an unnecessary service call.
Before making the call, check the thermostat setting. If it’s not set correctly, the unit won’t get the correct signals and won’t produce cold air. First, make sure the thermostat is set to the cooling mode, and it’s warmer in the house than the thermostat setting. Also, the fan must be set to auto. If the fan is on, it will keep running between cycles, and you’ll feel warm air from the vents.
You should also check the air filter. If it’s been a while since it was replaced and is covered in dirt and grime, the airflow in the unit will be restricted, causing the unit to overheat and produce warm air.
Now that you’ve eliminated the issues you can fix, it’s time to call an air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX. A few problems can prevent the unit from producing cold air, and you’ll need an HVAC professional to diagnose the problem correctly.
- Refrigerant leak: Your air conditioner needs refrigerant to produce cold air. Over time, acid can eat away at the metal, creating tiny pinholes that allow the refrigerant to leak.
If your unit was installed after 2010, an air conditioning service can send a tech to fix the leak and refill the refrigerant.
If the unit was installed before 2010, your only option is to replace the air conditioner. Older units use R-22 refrigerant, which was deemed toxic by the EPA, and depletes the ozone layer. A partial ban was placed on R-22, and it was only available for existing units, and AC manufacturers began producing units that use a different type of refrigerant. On January 1, 2020, R-22 was banned entirely in the United States and is no longer available. The tech won’t try to fix the leak because they won’t have R-22 to refill the unit, and you’ll need to replace it with a newer model. - Frozen evaporator coils: The evaporator coils extract heat and humidity from the air to begin the cooling process. If the coils are frozen, they can’t do their job, and you’ll need to hire an air conditioning service.
Several issues can cause the coils to freeze, including:- Dirty evaporator coils
- Poor airflow in the unit
- Low fan speed
- Backed-up drain clogs
- You ran the unit when it was too cold outside.
- An air conditioning service will send a tech to your home to thaw the coils and determine why they froze in the first place, which is necessary to prevent them from freezing again.
- Broken compressor: The indoor AC unit works with the outdoor compressor to keep your home cool and comfortable. If there’s no power going to the unit or it isn’t working right, your air conditioner won’t produce cold air, and you’ll need to call an air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX. A tech will inspect the compressor and make the necessary repair to ensure your home stays cool.
Warm air coming from the vents is the most obvious sign it’s time to call an air conditioning service, and it’s best to make the call immediately. The longer you wait, the longer it will be until your home is cool and comfortable again.
#2 Restricted Airflow
You should feel a powerful rush of cold air from the vents when the air conditioner runs. If you feel minimal airflow, it’s best to call an air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX, immediately.
Restricted airflow will make it challenging for your home to reach the desired temperature, and the air conditioner will work overtime to keep the house cool, resulting in high energy bills. Also, the extra work will strain the unit, reducing its lifespan.
A few issues can prevent adequate airflow, and you’ll need an HVAC tech to diagnose the problem correctly.
- Faulty blower: Your air conditioner has a blower designed to force the cold air from the unit through the air ducts to the vents. If the blower isn’t working correctly, the cold air won’t be pushed through the ducts, resulting in minimal airflow.
An air conditioning service can send a tech to inspect the blower to determine if it can be fixed or if a replacement is the best option. - Clogged air ducts: The dirt and debris in your house will accumulate in the air ducts, and up to five pounds of debris can accumulate in one year. A significant buildup of dirt and debris can clog the ducts, preventing adequate airflow. This issue can also affect your home’s air quality. When the air conditioner runs, the dirt and debris from the ducts will circulate in the air, causing your family to develop allergy symptoms.
An air conditioning service can remove the debris from the air ducts, restoring the airflow. It’s best to have the air ducts professionally cleaned every three to five years to prevent them from clogging again. - Damaged air ducts: The air ducts in your house are hidden behind walls, under the floor, or above the ceiling for aesthetic purposes. Because the ducts are hidden, you won’t be able to see any visible damage, and the only sign is restricted airflow. The cold air will escape from the damaged area, causing poor airflow.
An air conditioning service can send a tech to your home to inspect the ducts for damage and make the necessary repair to restore the airflow.
Because restricted airflow can affect your home’s temperature, bank account, and lifespan of the unit, it’s best to call an air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX immediately.
#3 Foul Smells
Your air conditioner should produce clean, cold air, and you shouldn’t smell anything when the unit runs. It’s not uncommon to smell dust when you run the air conditioner for the first time during the cooling season, but the smell will dissipate within a few minutes. If you smell any other foul odors, it’s best to immediately call an air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX.
- Burning; A burning smell indicates a wiring issue, and the smell is due to the wire insulation burning. This is a serious issue because wiring issues can spark an electrical fire that can destroy your home in minutes. It’s best to turn off the unit immediately and call an air conditioning service. They will send a tech to your home to find the faulty wire and make the necessary repair before a disaster strikes.
- Mold: If you smell mold when the unit runs, call an air conditioning service immediately. The most common cause of the smell is mold in the air ducts, and the foul odor is the least of your problems. Mold spores will circulate in the air when the unit runs, putting your family’s health at significant risk for mold-related conditions, including:
- Allergy symptoms
- Chronic headaches
- Skin rashes
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Burning eyes, nose, and throat
- Worsens chronic lung and respiratory conditions
- Allowing the problem to persist can result in serious complications, such as mold-induced asthma, allergic fungal sinusitis, or hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
If you smell mold when the unit runs, it’s best to call an air conditioning service right away. They will send a tech to your home to inspect the air ducts for mold, which can be easily eradicated with an antimicrobial fogger. If they can’t find any mold in the ducts, it could be in the air conditioner. This often occurs due to a lack of maintenance and can be more challenging to eliminate. If the tech cannot eliminate every mold spore, you’ll need to replace the unit to ensure your family’s health. It would be best if you also considered having a UV lamp installed in the unit to prevent future mold growth.
Foul smells when the air conditioner runs indicate issues that can put your home and family at risk, so it’s best to call an air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX as soon as you detect the smell.
#4 Strange Sounds
Your air conditioner is designed to be whisper quiet, so you aren’t disturbed when it runs, and at most, you’ll hear a faint clicking sound when the unit cycles.
If you hear any strange sounds, such as banging, clanging, hissing, or screaming, it’s best to call an HVAC professional immediately. These sounds indicate an issue with the unit, and further damage will occur if you fail to address the problem immediately.
The tech will listen to the unit’s sound to point them in the right direction. After a full inspection, the tech will make the necessary repair, and the unit will run quietly again.
#5 Broken Thermostat
If the thermostat isn’t working correctly, the unit won’t get the correct signal, affecting your home’s temperature. A few issues indicate a broken thermostat, including:
- The temperature in the house doesn’t match the temperature on the thermostat.
- The thermostat doesn’t light up after you’ve changed the battery.
- The thermostat is unresponsive.
- The unit cycles too frequently.
An HVAC tech can check the thermostat to determine if it can be fixed or if replacing it is the better option. If it’s time for a replacement, there are a few options today that can help save money on your energy bills, including;
- Programmable thermostat
- Wi-Fi thermostat
- Smart thermostat
The tech can discuss the options and the benefits of each, allowing you to make an informed decision.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth Today
If your air conditioner isn’t working correctly and you want to work with a reputable air conditioning service, look no further than One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. We’re a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area since 1988, and many of our customers have been working with us for over 30 years.
Our HVAC techs are professionally trained, certified, and have the knowledge and skill to handle the most challenging jobs in the industry. HVAC technology is constantly evolving, and our techs are required to receive ongoing education. We want to be sure they can install, maintain, and repair the latest HVAC models, and ongoing training makes this possible.
Your comfort is our number one priority, and if you have an issue with your air conditioner, don’t panic. We provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we will get a tech to your home as quickly as possible to make the necessary repairs. We always have a tech on call to ensure your house remains cool and comfortable regardless of the day and time.
If you have an air conditioning issue that cannot be fixed and a replacement is necessary, we can help reduce the cost. Our highly trained customer service reps can give you information on rebates and tax credits on your new equipment.
To schedule an appointment for air conditioning repair or any other HVAC service, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth today.