6 Tell-Tale Signs You Need to Call An Air Conditioning Service | Fort Worth, TX
Photo By pongsakorn chaina at Shutterstock
During the summer, most people spend more time in their homes to avoid the heat. If you live in Fort Worth, TX, you understand this. During the summer, the average temperature is between 94 and 98 degrees. You can get some relief at night because the temperature drops to about 76 degrees, but with the humidity, it can feel hotter than it is, making your home uncomfortable.
Because Fort Worth, TX summers are so hot, you rely greatly on your air conditioner, not only to keep your home cool but also to prevent your home from being humid and sticky. Because you cannot get comfortable without air conditioning, it is essential that your system is functioning all summer long. The last thing you want is for your air conditioner to experience issues that will affect your home’s temperature and humidity level. You also want to avoid a complete air conditioner breakdown.
The best way to do this is to recognize the early signs that there is something wrong. The sooner you detect a problem, the sooner you can call an air conditioning service to have the issue repaired. If you make the call immediately, you can prevent a minor issue from escalating to a major problem that is expensive to repair.
If the air conditioner in your Forth Worth, TX home is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, you should schedule an appointment for air conditioning service right away.
#1 The Air Coming From the Vents Is Warm
The most obvious sign that your air conditioner isn’t working properly is warm air coming from the vents. You don’t want to waste money on an unnecessary service call; therefore, you should check the thermostat settings before calling an air conditioning service.
First, make sure the system is set to the cooling mode. If it isn’t, your system won’t know you want your home to be cool, and the air conditioner won’t kick on. Next, check the temperature setting. Your system won’t kick on until it is hotter in the house than the setting on the thermostat. If your thermostat isn’t set correctly, adjusting it should solve the problem.
If your thermostat is set correctly and there is still warm air coming from the vents in your home, you should call an air conditioning service. A few issues can cause your system to produce warm air, and you will need a licensed HVAC tech to determine which one is the cause.
The most common issues include:
- Dirty air filter: If the air filter is dirty, your system won’t be able to move cool air through the system, which can put a strain on your air conditioner, causing warm air to come from the vents.
- Frozen evaporator coil: Your evaporator coil can freeze due to poor airflow, refrigerant leaks, and system damage. When the evaporator coil freezes, your system won’t be able to produce cold air. You may be able to thaw the coil yourself using a hairdryer, but this won’t solve the problem. You will need an air conditioning professional to determine why the evaporator coil has frozen so they can prevent it from happening again.
- Refrigerant leak: If your system is leaking refrigerant, your system won’t be able to produce cold air.
- Lack of electricity to the outdoor unit: Only the indoor unit will function if there is no electricity going to the outdoor unit. Because your indoor unit relies on the outdoor unit to produce cold air, a lack of electricity to the outdoor unit will cause warm air to flow from the vents.
It is best to call an air conditioning service as soon as the problem starts. The longer you wait, the longer your family will be uncomfortable while in your Fort Worth, TX home.
#2 Reduced Airflow
If the airflow from the vents is inadequate, it will be difficult for your air conditioner to keep your home cool. There are a number of issues that can cause airflow coming from the vents, and you will need to schedule an appointment for an air conditioning service to diagnose the problem.
The causes of reduced airflow include:
- Dirty air ducts: In just one year, up to five pounds of dirt, dust, pet dander, and other debris can build up in your air ducts. When this happens, it can obstruct the air coming from the vents and affect the air quality in your home. In addition, clogged air ducts will cause your system to work overtime to keep your home cool, which will cause your cooling costs to increase and can reduce the lifespan of your air conditioner.
- Damaged air ducts: A cracked or damaged air duct can reduce the airflow coming from the vents. The cold air will escape through the damaged area before reaching the vents, reducing the airflow. This is another issue that will increase your cooling costs and reduce the lifespan of your air conditioner.
- Faulty blower: Your system’s blower is responsible for helping the cold air reach the vents. If the blower isn’t functioning correctly, the airflow will be reduced.
Because poor airflow can affect your family’s comfort, their health, and your bank account, you shouldn’t wait to call an air conditioning service.
#3 A Moldy Smell When the System Is Running
The air conditioner in your home shouldn’t emit a smell when it is running. If you smell mold when the system is running, you have a serious problem on your hands, and you should call an air conditioning service immediately.
The most common cause of a moldy smell is mold in the air ducts. The air ducts in your home are dark, and they can become damp. This creates the perfect environment for mold growth. Mold in the air ducts can be very harmful to your family’s health. When the system is on, mold spores can circulate in the air your family breathes, causing allergy symptoms, respiratory issues and can weaken your immune system. If a family member has a chronic lung or respiratory issue, the mold spores can worsen their condition.
When you call an air conditioning service, they will inspect your air ducts for the presence of mold. If they find any, they use an antimicrobial fogger to eradicate the mold and prevent future mold growth.
If the HVAC tech cannot find any mold in the air ducts, it is likely in the air conditioner itself, which is a more serious issue. There is no guarantee that the tech can remove the mold. If this is the case, you will have to replace your air conditioner.
For the sake of your health and the health of your family, you should schedule an appointment for an air conditioning service as soon as you notice the smell.
#4 Strange Sounds
If the air conditioner in your Fort Worth, TX home is functioning correctly, it should be quiet. The most you will hear is a low-level clicking sound when the system cycles on and off. If your system is making sounds other than clicking, you should call an air conditioning service. The sound your system makes can help an HVAC tech identify the problem.
- Banging: Banging sounds often signify a loose or broken part, such as the piston pin, connecting rod, or crankshaft. This sound could also mean the indoor blower is unbalanced, or you need to replace the compressor.
- Clanking: Clanking sounds often occur when something is out of balance. For example, the fan blades can hit other parts if the indoor or outdoor units aren’t balanced properly.
- Buzzing: There are a number of issues that can cause a buzzing sound, such as loose parts, debris in either unit, a dirty condenser coil, a dirty air filter, or the blower or fan motor are failing.
- High-pitched screaming: A high-pitched scream signifies an increase in pressure in the system, and this issue can be hazardous. You should turn off your air conditioner as soon as you hear the sound and immediately call an air conditioning service.
It is a bad idea to ignore strange sounds coming from your air conditioner. The longer you wait to call an air conditioning service, the worse the problem will become and could result in a complete AC breakdown.
#5 Moisture Or Liquid Pooling Around the Unit
The area around the air conditioner in your Fort Worth, TX home should always be dry. If there is moisture or fluid pooling in the area, you should call an air conditioning service immediately. The issue could be something minor that is easy to fix, or it could be something more. You will need a licensed HVAC tech to determine the source of the moisture.
If the condensate hose is cracked or disconnected, the water will leak from the hose around your air conditioner. This is a relatively simple fix.
You could also have an issue causing the evaporator coil to freeze and thaw repeatedly, causing water to pool in the area. This issue will affect your air conditioner’s performance and should be fixed immediately.
Finally, the issue could be a refrigerant leak. This is very serious because refrigerant is harmful to humans. Also, your system won’t function properly without an adequate amount of refrigerant.
If you have a refrigerant leak and your system is older than 10 years old, you have a major problem on your hands. Most older units use R22 refrigerant, which the Environmental Protection Society has deemed toxic and harmful to the environment. In January 2020, the U.S. government banned the production of R22. If you have a refrigerant leak, your air conditioning service tec won’t be able to find R22, and you will need to replace your air conditioner.
An air conditioning service tech will inspect your system to figure out where the water is coming from and take the necessary steps to resolve the problem.
#6 A Faulty Thermostat
The thermostat in your Fort Worth, TX home is your HVAC system’s brain. It tells your system what to do and when to do it. If the thermostat isn’t working, your air conditioner won’t work properly either.
There are few signs that will let you know that your thermostat isn’t working properly, and would require the help of an air conditioning service.
- The thermostat is unresponsive even after replacing the batteries.
- Your system won’t turn on.
- Your system cycles on and off more frequently than it should.
If the HVAC tech determines your thermostat is broken and needs to be replaced, you should talk to them about your options. Thermostat technology has evolved over the years, and there are options to make your life more convenient and help you save money on your energy bills.
- Programmable thermostats allow you to program the thermostat to change the temperature based on when you are home and when you won’t. Installing a programmable thermostat can save a significant amount of money on your energy bills.
- Wi-Fi thermostats can be controlled using your smartphone or tablet from anywhere in the world as long as there is a Wi-Fi connection. When you can manage your thermostat from anywhere, you can save money on your energy bills.
- Smart thermostats connect to your Amazon Alexa or your Google Home. You can control your thermostat through these devices using the sound of your voice. If you aren’t home, you can use the device’s app to control the thermostat from anywhere as long as you have Wi-Fi.
If the HVAC tech determines your thermostat needs to be replaced, you should consider these money-saving options.
Why Choose One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating Of Fort Worth?
If you need to schedule an appointment for air conditioning service, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating Of Fort Worth. We are a full-service HVAC company that has been serving customers in the area since 1988. Many of our customers have been loyal customers for as many as 20 years, thanks to the excellent service we provide.
Our HVAC techs are highly trained, NATE certified and can handle any job you throw at us. Our techs are required to pass a background check, drug test and be certified with the state of Texas before they are hired. This can give you peace of mind that you can trust the person you allow in your home.
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.