7 Signs That It Is Time To Call For Air Conditioning Repair | Fort Worth, TX
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Anyone who has ever spent a summer in Fort Worth, Texas, knows how hot it can get. On a typical summer day, the temperature can reach close to 100 degrees. As if the temperature weren’t enough, Fort Worth summers are also extremely humid. The two conditions combined can make it impossible to feel comfortable while outdoors. This is why many Fort Worth residents spend as much time inside their air-conditioned houses. And if it isn’t working they want air conditioning repair as soon as possible.
Because the summers are so hot and humid, you rely greatly on your air conditioner during the summer, not only to keep your house cool but also to control the humidity inside the house. The last thing that you want on a hot summer day is for your air conditioner to stop working. Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for an HVAC tech. Because of this, it isn’t always easy to get a tech to your home right away to repair your air conditioner. The best way to prevent a complete air conditioning breakdown is to be able to recognize the signs that you need air conditioning repair. If you can catch a small problem, you can have it repaired before it becomes a major issue that causes your system to shut down completely.
#1 Warm Air Coming From the Vents
The most obvious sign that you need to call for air conditioning repair is if there is warm air coming out of the vents. If the air is warm, it will be impossible for your Fort Worth, TX home, to reach the desired temperature, especially on a hot day.
Before you call for air conditioning repair, you should first check your thermostat. First, make sure that the system is set to the cooling mode. If someone accidentally changed the setting, the cold air won’t come from the vents. Next, you need to check the temperature in the house versus the setting on the thermostat. In order for cold air to come from the vents, the temperature inside needs to be warmer than what you have the thermostat set to. If it isn’t, change the setting on the thermostat. This should solve your problem.
If everything with the thermostat checks out, you should call for air conditioning repair. There are a few things that could be causing the problem. First, you should go outside and make sure that the outdoor unit is working. If there isn’t any electricity going to the outdoor unit, your air conditioner won’t be able to blow cold air. You also want to make sure that the outdoor unit is clean and free of debris. The problem could also be the compressor. If it is not working properly, it won’t be able to pump refrigerant through the system, which will make it difficult for your system to blow cold air. Finally, your system could also be low on refrigerant, or there could be a refrigerant leak.
Because there are so many reasons why your system isn’t blowing cold air, it is best to call a professional who specializes in air conditioning repair. A professional will be able to diagnose the problem easily and make the necessary repairs. The sooner you make the call, the sooner your home will be comfortable.
#2 Poor Air Flow
If there is little or no air coming from the vents in your Fort Worth, TX home, it will be difficult for your home to reach the desired temperature without air conditioning repair. Your system will work overtime, trying to keep your home cool, which will cause a significant increase in your energy bill. Also, the extra work can reduce your air conditioner’s maximum lifespan.
There are a few reasons why the airflow is restricted. The most common reason is a problem with an air conditioner’s blower. If the blower isn’t working, the system won’t be able to blow the cold air through the vents, which will cause poor airflow.
If the air filter is clogged, it will be difficult for the air to flow freely from the vents. The same is true if there is dirt and debris build up inside the ducts. If there are leaks in the ducts, you will also have airflow issues.
Finally, the evaporator could be frozen. If the coils are frozen, it will block the air from passing over the coils into the air ducts and you’ll want to look into air conditioning repair.
#3 Frequent Cycling
If the air conditioner is your Fort Worth, TX, home is functioning properly; the compressor should run until the temperature in the house reaches what is set on the thermostat. When it does, it will power down the compressor until the house warms up again.
If your system is cycling on and off frequently and the cycles are very short, you should call for air conditioning repair. This is called short-cycling, and there are a few issues that could be causing it.
First, you could have a clogged air filter. This is a simple fix, and it is something you can do yourself. However, other potential causes should only be handled by a professional in air conditioning repair.
If your system is low on refrigerant or there is a leak, your system will short cycle. The same is true if you have a leaky ventilation system. This will cause the air to escape, which will tell your system that it needs to cycle on and off.
The problem could also be with your thermostat. If it needs to be recalibrated, it will read the wrong temperature, causing short cycles. Finally, if you have been dealing with short cycles since you bought your Fort Worth, TX home or since you had it installed, the system could be too large or too small for your home.
These are all issues that would require the knowledge and expertise of an HVAC technician. After diagnosing the problem, they can make the necessary repairs.
#4 The House Is more Humid than Usual
As mentioned earlier, the air conditioner in your Fort Worth, TX home is designed to keep the home cool, and the humidity level low. If you notice that it is unusually humid in your home, there are a few issues that could be causing the problem.
If the evaporator coil in the indoor unit is covered with dust and dirt, it will have trouble removing the heat and humidity from the home. If the house is still cool but humid, the coil is probably not dirty enough to keep the house from cooling down, but it is dirty enough where it cannot remove the humidity.
The problem could also be with the air conditioner’s fan. If there is something wrong with the fan and it cannot turn fast enough, it won’t be able to remove the humidity from the home.
Finally, the problem could be with the refrigerant charge. If it is too low, your system will struggle to remove enough heat and humidity to keep it comfortable. If you allow the problem to persist, it can result in more serious issues like a frozen coil or a compressor failure. These issues can be expensive to repair; therefore, you should call for air conditioning repair as soon as you suspect there is a problem with your AC.
#5 Moisture Around the Indoor or Outdoor Unit
There should never be any moisture around the indoor unit in your Fort Worth, TX home. If you notice puddles of water or moisture around the unit, you should call a professional for air conditioning repair as soon as possible.
The problem could be a broken condenser pump. You can check to see if this is the problem by pouring water into the condenser pan. If the pump is working properly, it will pump out the water. If not, it is the pump. The problem could also be with the condenser motor. In either case, you would need a professional who specializes in air conditioning repair to fix the problem.
You could also have a blocked or rusted drain line hose, which is the best-case scenario because it is simple and relatively inexpensive to have repaired.
You should already know that a dirty air filter can cause issues with your air conditioner’s performance. What you may not know is that it could be the cause of the moisture around the unit. If the air filter is blocked, the airflow will be clogged, making it difficult for the air to reach the evaporator coil. When this happens, it can freeze. When it melts, the excess water will fall into the drain pan, but it isn’t designed to hold that much water, and it will overflow.
The worst-case scenario would be a refrigerant leak. Because refrigerant is toxic, it can be dangerous if you have pets or small children. If your air conditioner is relatively new, a professional in air conditioning repair can fix the problem and refill the refrigerant easily. If you have an older system, it won’t be as simple. Many older units use R-22 refrigerants. This type has been deemed toxic and harmful to the environment, so the government has phased it out. There is a chance that your HVAC tech won’t be able to find the refrigerant to replace in the system. If they can, it will be very expensive. If your old system is leaking refrigerant, you may end up needing to replace the entire system.
#6 Foul Odors
If you turn on the air conditioner in your Fort Worth, TX home and smell something foul, you should call for air conditioning repair as soon as possible.
If you smell mold or mildew, you could have growth inside the unit. This can have a serious effect on the home’s air quality, and it should be addressed immediately. The mold and mildew can also be built up inside the ducts. If this is the problem, the HVAC tech can use UV lamps to eliminate the growth in the system. They can also clean the ducts to remove any mold that is growing there.
If you smell a pungent smell, the insulation or wiring could be burning inside the unit. This is something that should not be ignored, and you should call a professional in air conditioning repair as soon as possible.
#7 Strange Sounds
If the air conditioner in your Fort Worth, TX, home is functioning properly, you should only hear a low-level noise when it kicks on and off. If you start hearing strange sounds, you should call for air conditioning repair immediately.
If you hear a buzzing or rattling sound coming from inside the unit, there is likely a loose or broken part. If you ignore the problem, the broken part can cause damage to other parts inside the unit. If you hear a grinding or whistling sound, it is something more serious and needs to be repaired immediately.
An experienced HVAC tech would need to take the system apart to figure out what is causing the sound so that it can be repaired.
If the air conditioner in your Fort Worth, TX, home isn’t functioning properly, your home won’t be cool during the summer. If you are experiencing any issues that are causing you concern, you should call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating. We have been serving residential and business customers in Tarrant County since 1988. Many of the customers that we served back then have been coming to us ever since for their HVAC needs.
All of our HVAC techs are NATE certified and receive ongoing training to ensure they are up-to-date on the newest HVAC technology.
We understand that air conditioning problems and air conditioning repair needs can occur at any time of the day or night, which is why we offer 24/7 emergency service. If you have an issue with your air conditioner, we will do our best to get a tech out to your home quickly to repair the problem.
To schedule an appointment for air conditioning repair or any other HVAC service, give us at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating a call today.