6 Signs You Need An AC Repair Company | Fort Worth, TX
If you are a homeowner, there are a lot of tasks that you need to think about on a regular basis. Suddenly, everything in your home is your responsibility to maintain, and if something does happen to go wrong, you cannot call your landlord to take care of it. This can be a tough adjustment for a new first-time homeowner, especially if the thing that goes wrong requires the aid of a Fort Worth, TX, AC repair company. Your HVAC system is a large household appliance, so the first time something goes wrong with it can be confusing.
It can also be very frustrating and a bit scary since you don’t have an AC repair company or any experience with your HVAC system. You might not even know if the thing you have noticed is worth calling for help about or not. Almost every homeowner goes through this the first time that their AC stops working or starts making funny sounds or odors. Therefore, you should know that you are not alone if you are searching the internet attempting to figure out if what you noticed is actually a problem.
While we cannot diagnose every problem over the phone or the Internet, the one thing we do tell our customers is that any odd thing that is happening is not likely to go away. It may change or evolve as the problem gets worse, but it won’t just disappear. Many homeowners try to ignore things that bother them about their AC, hoping that it will resolve themselves and they won’t have to worry about hiring an AC repair company to come out and take a look. In these scenarios, the ending is not usually what they want.
Instead, what happens is their AC system eventually breaks down, and now, instead of worrying about troubleshooting and repair, they are dealing with an AC emergency. In Fort Worth, TX, you cannot wait for AC repair; you need to get a solution right away, which is why there are emergency AC repair company options. Of course, you will find yourself in the same situation, which is that you need to call someone for help but because you have never dealt with this issue before, you don’t know who to call. Which is precisely what might have stopped you the first time around.
With that in mind, it is obviously always better to make that first call to an AC repair company in Fort Worth, TX, while your AC is still on and your home is still comfortable enough to live in. This is why it is so important to stay on top of problems when you notice them and why it is so important to make sure that you get help from a qualified HVAC technician before things have a chance to go south. So how do you make that happen?
Well, you first need to find an AC repair company that you can trust. This can be intimidating but does not have to be impossible. One of the best things you can do is ask around to see who other people use that you know. Family and friends are both great options, but if you are new to the area, you can use social media to ask for local recommendations. You can also ask co-workers because most people are plenty willing to talk about who they use. This makes the topic a great icebreaker and something that you actually need to learn a bit more about.
Once you have some names, consider calling an AC repair company and booking an annual AC service. This is actually something that you need to get into the habit of doing as a new homeowner and will pay off over time. An annual service is a great way to make sure that your AC system is ready for the new season or prepare for next season, depending at which point in the year you book it. You can also use it as a screening call for the AC repair company you are thinking about using. It is a non-committed way to see if you like the customer service of the company and if they fit your needs.
Usually, during an AC annual maintenance visit, the HVAC technician will thoroughly inspect your AC system while cleaning out all dirt and debris from it. At the end of the visit, they will give you a report that lists everything they see while they are cleaning it and any recommendations for proactive repair. This allows them to look at pieces that are worn down that you might know about and allows you to fix worn-down parts before they have the chance to cause any greater damage. Therefore, it is a winning combination for everyone.
A lot of people actually like the AC maintenance visit because it gives them a chance to prepare for the future and budget for things like repair or, eventually replacement. As a new homeowner, you might not really have any idea of the condition of your AC, and in Fort Worth, TX, you need to make sure that your AC system is completely reliable. This is the best way to get the lowdown about the overall condition of your system and any repairs that may be in your future.
If the AC repair company tells you that your system is aging and may only have a couple of years of life left, this also gives you time to budget and think about replacement. It is always better to know when you need to replace your system than to wait until it breaks down and you are in an emergency forced to pay for whatever model the company can get installed in your home quickly. After all, with the weather in Fort Worth, TX, you cannot afford to wait too much longer.
With all of that said, you still need to get back to the original query, which is how can you tell if you need the help of an AC repair company right now? Hopefully, at this point, you have some great ideas about how you can choose the right repair company, now it is time to figure out when you need to call them. To that end, we have compiled a list of the top six signs that it is time to call for AC repair. While this list is not complete, it does cover some of the biggest reasons you should call for help. If you notice any of your current issues on this list, make sure you call a local AC company and get repair sooner than later.
Warm Air Coming Out
One of the biggest reasons that you may need to call an AC repair company (and cannot wait) is if you notice that warm air is coming out of your air vents. While you can wait for a lot of things, this is not one of them because this means that your AC is no longer performing its chief duty. The one thing you can check is that you have the AC turned on and that your thermostat is correctly reading the temperature in your home.
Occasionally, the fan will get turned on instead of the actual AC, and a quick adjustment is all it takes to remedy the problem. However, if that is not the issue and the thermostat is set to the correct temperature, then you need to call an AC repair company to come out to your home and troubleshoot the issue. Usually, it is an issue with the compressor or the refrigerant, but you will need a professionally trained HVAC technician to help you sort out which is responsible.
Decreased Air Flow
Another sign that something is wrong with your AC system that needs to be examined by an AC repair company is if there is decreased air flow coming out of your vents. Most people have a rough idea of how much air usually comes out of their vents. Even new homeowners get used to a certain amount of air. If you notice that it changes or that there is hardly more than a slight breeze of air when your system is cycling, you need to have someone take a look.
Decreased air flow will not only impair the ability of your AC system to produce cool air and cool your home, but it will also run up your energy bills since your AC will need to run constantly in order to try to keep up with the temperature in your home. A few days of this can quickly drive your electric bill sky-high, so if you notice that there is a problem with airflow you need to get help right away.
AC Thermostat Is Not Responding
Many people forget that their thermostat is a part of their HVAC system and a very important component. The thermostat is like the brains of your HVAC system. If it is not properly reading the temperature in your home or is not responding to your commands then your AC system is not going to work properly. Sometimes you just need to change the battery, but if you have an older home, it might be time to look into replacing your thermostat altogether.
Odd Odors
Another clear sign that you need to call an AC repair company is the scent of certain odd odors near your AC vents. It is not unusual for an older home to have a slightly moldy or musty smell coming from its vents, but this is not something that you should ignore. More times than not it means that your ductwork needs to be cleaned, which is something that can improve the air quality in your home and take care of health risks such as mold growing in the ducts.
There are also odd odors that indicate an emergency, such as if you notice gas-like odors coming from your air vents. While your AC system does not use gas, it is connected to your furnace and if there is a leak, it will come out through the air ducts even during the summer months. This is an emergency that needs to be taken care of right away. Electrical burning smells are another emergency that needs to be addressed right away. Do not wait if you notice any of these odors in your Fort Worth, TX home.
Loud Noises
There are a lot of suspicious noises that also should not be taken lightly. In fact, your AC system should never make any noise which means that you should take all noises seriously and call an AC repair company for help. Common noises people hear and question include banging, knocking, ringing, whistling, or hissing. Hissing in particular, is a concerning sound that needs to be looked at right away by an AC repair company because it indicates a build-up of pressure somewhere along the line.
Humidity in the Air
One of the chief jobs of your AC system is to remove humidity from the air, so if there is still humidity in your home then something is wrong with your system. An AC repair company should come out and explore the issue since you should not have to deal with the same sticky air inside your air as you do outside. Sometimes an adjustment needs to be made; sometimes, homeowners need to invest in a whole-home dehumidifier. An AC repair company can help you get to the bottom of the issue.
If you notice any of these issues on your list or think that you need help with the AC at your Fort Worth, TX home, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. We are a premier AC repair company that can help you with all of our cooling needs.