6 Signs It’s Time To Call An Air Conditioning Service | Azle, TX
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If you have been living in your Azle, TX home for at least one summer, you know how hot it can get. It isn’t uncommon for the temperature to reach 90 degrees or above. When it is this hot outside, many people spend more time in their air-conditioned homes to escape the heat.
If your air conditioner isn’t functioning correctly, your home won’t be cool and comfortable, and you will have no escape from the heat. In addition, some problems can put your home and family at risk.
If you are experiencing any of the following issues in your home, it is best to call a professional in air conditioning service right away.
#1 Thermostat Issues
The thermostat in your home is your HVAC system’s brain. If the thermostat is broken, it can’t tell your HVAC system what to do, which can affect the way your air conditioner performs.
There are a few issues to let you know that the thermostat is broken, and you need to schedule an appointment for air conditioning service.
- The thermostat is unresponsive, even after changing the batteries.
- The display is dim or incomplete.
- The air conditioner cycles more frequently than it should.
- The air conditioner won’t turn on.
Thermostat technology has improved over the last several years, and programmable thermostats are no longer the only option that can help save money on your energy bills. Wi-Fi thermostats can be turned on, off and can be adjusted using your cell phone from anywhere in the world as long as there’s an internet connection. This will allow you to adjust the temperature even when you aren’t home, reducing your energy bills.
Smart thermostats work with Amazon, Alexa, or Google Nest. When you are home, you can adjust the thermostat using the sound of your voice. If you aren’t home, you can use the smart device’s app on your cell phone to control the thermostat.
An air conditioner service professional can explain the pros and cons of each option so that you can make the best decision.
#2 The Unit Isn’t Producing Cold Air
If the air conditioner in your Azle, TX home isn’t producing cold air, it is the most obvious sign you need to schedule an appointment for air conditioning service. If the thermostat isn’t set correctly, the unit won’t produce cold air; therefore, you should check the thermostat before calling a professional in air conditioning service.
First, make sure the thermostat is set to the cooling mode. Next, check the fan. If the fan is on, it will continue to run between cycles, causing warm air to come from the vents. The fan should be set to auto for the AC to function properly. Finally, check the temperature setting. It needs to be warmer in your home than the setting on the thermostat for the unit to produce cold air.
If your thermostat is set correctly, it is time to schedule an appointment for air conditioning service. A few issues can prevent your air conditioner from producing cold air, and you will need an HVAC tech to diagnose the problem.
- Dirty air filter: A dirty air filter will prevent the air from moving through the unit, causing the air conditioner to overheat, preventing it from producing cold air.
- Dirty or frozen evaporator coils: The evaporator coils use the warm air from your Azle, TX home to begin the cooling process. If the evaporator coils are dirty or frozen, they can’t do their job, and the cooling process will be interrupted.
- Refrigerant leak: Your air conditioner relies on refrigerant to produce cold air. If there is a refrigerant leak, the unit cannot produce cold air.
- The outdoor unit has no power: Your indoor and outdoor air conditioning units work together to produce cold air. If the outdoor unit has no power, the indoor unit can’t do its job, preventing it from producing cold air.
- Your air conditioner is old: If your air conditioner is over ten years old, it may not be functioning as efficiently as possible and cannot produce cold air. This problem will require an AC replacement.
A professional in air conditioning service can inspect the unit to diagnose the problem and make the necessary repair.
#3 Reduced Airflow
When you stand in front of the vents in your home when the AC is running, you should feel a powerful rush of cold air. If the airflow is weak, the air conditioner will have to work harder to keep your home cool and comfortable, causing your energy bills to increase. In addition, when the AC has to work overtime, it will put excess strain on the system, reducing its maximum lifespan.
A few problems can cause reduced airflow; therefore, you should call a professional in air conditioning service.
- Damaged air ducts: The air ducts in your home are hidden; therefore, you can’t see physical damage. The only sign the air ducts are damaged is reduced airflow. The cold air will escape from the damaged area before reaching the vents, resulting in poor airflow.
- Dirty air ducts: Regardless of how clean you keep your home, dust, dirt, and other debris will build up in the ducts, obstructing the airflow. This isn’t the only problem clogged ducts can cause and can also affect your home’s air quality. When your HVAC system is on, the debris will circulate in the air, causing allergy symptoms. Fortunately, a duct cleaning service will solve the problem.
- Faulty blower: The blower is essential in providing adequate airflow to the vents, and it is designed to force the cold air from the air conditioner to the ducts and through the vents. If the blower is faulty, very little cold air will reach the vents, resulting in poor airflow.
Reduced airflow can cause your energy bills to increase, decrease the unit’s lifespan, and can affect the air quality in your home; therefore, it is best to call an air conditioning service as soon as possible.
#4 Moisture or Fluid Pooling Around the Unit
If there is moisture on the walls or floor around the air conditioner in your Azle, TX home, you should call an air conditioning service right away. The moisture indicates a loose, disconnected, or cracked condensate hose. This problem can affect how your air conditioner functions and the moisture can cause water damage and mold growth. Fortunately, this is a relatively easy fix.
Fluid pooling around the unit could indicate a refrigerant leak, which is serious and will require an emergency call to a professional in air conditioning service. Without refrigerant, your air conditioner cannot produce cold air. In addition, refrigerant is toxic, which can be harmful to children and pets who don’t know enough to stay away.
If your air conditioner is relatively new, a professional in air conditioning service can repair the unit and refill the refrigerant. However, if the unit is over ten years old, the repair can be made, but the tech won’t be able to refill the refrigerant. Older air conditioners use R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer available. When the EPA deemed R-22 toxic and harmful to the environment, the production of R-22 slowed down. On January 1, 2020, the U.S. government banned the production of R-22; therefore, the HVAC tech won’t have refrigerant to refill the unit, and the air conditioner will need to be replaced.
#5 Foul Smells When the AC Runs
The air conditioner in your Azle, TX home should produce cold, odorless air. If there is a strange smell in your home when the AC runs, you should schedule an appointment for air conditioning service.
If there is a moldy or musty smell in your home, it could be coming from the air ducts. The air ducts are hidden behind the walls, under the floor, and above the ceiling; therefore, they are dark. In addition, when it is humid in your home, moisture will form in the air ducts, and darkness and water are the perfect environment for mold growth.
Even though you can’t see the mold, it doesn’t make it any less serious. When your HVAC system runs, mold spores will circulate in the air, putting your family’s health at risk.
According to the CDC, breathing in mold spores can cause trouble breathing, allergy symptoms, skin rashes, and a weakened immune system, and it will be hard for your body to fight off infection and disease. In addition, if you or a family member has a chronic lung or respiratory condition, breathing in mold will make it worse.
An air conditioning service can send a tech to your home to examine the ducts for mold. Fortunately, if they find mold in the ducts, it can be eradicated with an antimicrobial fogger.
If the air ducts are mold-free, it could be in the air conditioner, which is more challenging to eliminate. If the tech can not rid the unit of mold, you will need to replace it.
A burning smell indicates an electrical issue, which may not affect the cooling process; however, it can spark an electrical fire, putting your family and home at significant risk. If you smell something burning when the AC runs, turn it off immediately and schedule an appointment for air conditioning service. An HVAC tech can inspect the system and make the necessary repair before a disaster occurs.
#6 Strange Sounds
If the air conditioner in your Azle, TX home is functioning correctly, the only sound it should make is a faint clicking when the unit cycles. If you hear any other strange sounds, you should call an air conditioning service.
The sound your air conditioner makes can indicate the problem.
- Banging: A few problems can cause banging sounds. The most common is a loose or broken part in the compressor, such as a piston pin, crankshaft, or connecting rod. A professional in air conditioning service can find the damaged part and make the necessary repair. The sound could also indicate that the compressor is nearing the end of its lifespan and will need to be replaced.
- Buzzing: Buzzing sounds are more difficult to diagnose because there are many possible causes, including loose parts, debris in the outdoor or indoor unit, the outdoor fan motor is failing, the fan blades aren’t balanced, or the blower is failing. Because the buzzing can come from different parts of the AC and there are so many causes, it is best to schedule an appointment for air conditioning service.
- Squealing: Squealing indicates issues with the blower or fan. In some cases, the problem can be fixed; however, if the fan or blower is nearing the end of its lifespan, the part will need to be replaced.
- Screaming: A high-pitched screaming indicates high pressure in the compressor, which is very dangerous; therefore, you should call an emergency air conditioning service. Waiting to make the call can put your home and family at significant risk.
Why Choose One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth?
If the air conditioner in your Azle, TX home isn’t working correctly, and you want to work with the best air conditioning service in Fort Worth, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth.
We are a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area since 1988. We take pride in the excellent service we provide, and many of our customers have been loyal customers for as many as 30 years. In addition, we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating on Google.
Our HVAC techs are professionally trained, NATE certified, and qualified to handle any HVAC job, whether simple like a routine duct cleaning service or installing a new HVAC system. We want you to feel safe when our techs come into your home; therefore, our techs are required to pass a criminal background check, drug test and register with the state of Texas before they are hired.
HVAC technology is constantly evolving; therefore, our techs are required to receive ongoing training. We want to be sure our techs can install, maintain and repair the most recent HVAC models, and continuing education is essential.
To schedule an appointment for air conditioning service or any other HVAC service, give us at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth a call today.