8 Serious Signs You Need To Hire An AC Repair Company | Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth, TX, is a great city to call home. However, the weather here can sometimes become unforgivingly harsh. In summer, the weather can become extremely hot and make your life quite uncomfortable. In winter, temperatures can then drop to uncomfortably low levels. Therefore, you need your HVAC system to keep your indoor temperature at a comfortable level or range no matter how hot or cold the weather gets.
Considering how hard your HVAC system needs to work to keep your home comfortable throughout the year, it is not surprising that it is one of the most significant energy consumers in your home. However, this does not mean that you should tolerate abnormally high energy bills. Unfortunately, the truth is that your energy bills might skyrocket if your HVAC system starts losing efficiency for some reason. In fact, this is one of the common reasons you might need to call an AC repair company to your Fort Worth, TX home. But why exactly can your heating and air conditioning system start consuming more energy than it used to?
Of course, your HVAC is a complex system, and there is no one answer for all instances of HVAC inefficiencies. In other words, the causes of heating and air conditioning system inefficiencies can vary from one case to another. Therefore, when you notice that your heating and air conditioning energy bills are going up sharply, but your utility company has not changed its rates significantly, you might need to seek the services of a professional AC repair company, such as One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth, to help you diagnose the underlying cause of the problem and ensure that it is fixed decisively. But generally, here are some possible reasons your HVAC system might be losing efficiency and consequently consuming more energy than necessary.
Your Unit Is Too Old
Of course, your heating and air conditioning system is quite durable. On average air conditioners last up to fifteen years, while heating units can last for up to twenty years. However, it is worth noting that as your heating and air conditioning system approaches the end of its life, it is normal for it to start consuming more energy than before. This is because some of its components will be extensively worn out, making it struggle to reach your desired levels of comfort. Unfortunately, this also means your aging heating and AC system might cost you more money to run. Therefore, if you have used a heating and AC system for over a decade and your energy bills seem to be rising sharply, you might need to start talking to your AC repair company about the need to invest in a new air conditioner. Your AC repair company will assess the condition of your heating and AC system and advise you on the most appropriate steps to take. If your HVAC system needs to be replaced, they will guide you on the best kind and size of HVAC equipment to install in order to achieve maximum efficiency and comfort.
The Ducts Are Leaking
Leaky ducts are some of the most common causes of HVAC system inefficiencies. Without adequate maintenance, your ducts might deteriorate and develop holes or cracks that might leak. In such a situation, some cooled or heated air might get lost before reaching various rooms in your Fort Worth, TX house. Unfortunately, this means that your heating and air conditioning equipment will be wasting a lot of energy. If nothing is done to resolve this issue promptly, you will be forced to pay higher energy bills. Fortunately, this is an issue that is quite straightforward for your heating and AC repair company to fix as long as the diagnosis is done accurately. Your heating and AC repair company will help you seal the leaks decisively and advise you to be seeking regular ductwork maintenance services to keep your ducts in good shape and save energy and money.
The Air Filters Are Dirty
The air filters are an essential part of your HVAC system. They help with removing particulate air pollutants, such as dust, pollen grains, and spores, from your indoor air with the aim of improving the quality of the air you breathe in your home and keeping your family free from allergens and other air pollutants that can trigger or exacerbate the symptoms of common respiratory issues. However, as air filters collect dust and other particulate air pollutants, they can get clogged. Unfortunately, if clogged air filters are not replaced or on time, they will interfere with the circulation of air, which will make it harder for your heating and air conditioning system to achieve its objectives. This means that your heating and air conditioning equipment might be forced to run for extended periods trying to cool your home. Unfortunately, your heating and air conditioning equipment might have to consume more energy than necessary and consequently push your energy bills up. The good news is that your AC repair company can easily fix this problem by simply replacing or cleaning the filters as directed by the manufacturer. Your AC repair company will then guide you on how often you need to get your air filters replaced to prevent such an issue from occurring again in the future.
The Air Ducts Are Dirty
The air ducts are responsible for ensuring that the heated or cooled air from your heater or air conditioner is evenly distributed throughout your Fort Worth, TX house. With time, your ductwork can collect dust and dirt, which might block the smooth circulating of air through the ducts. Unfortunately, when this happens, your HVAC system will struggle to keep your indoor temperatures comfortable. This means that it will need to work much harder and consequently consume more energy than necessary. The good news is that if the cause of your HVAC system’s declining efficiency is diagnosed as dirty ducts, it is quite easy for your heating and AC repair company to fix the issue. Experts will just need to clean the ducts thoroughly. Your AC repair company might then advise you on the need to schedule regular duct cleaning services to keep your ducts in good shape and consequently avoid future HVAC inefficiencies caused by dirty ducts.
Outdoor Unit Covered with Dirt
The outdoor unit is an important part of your air conditioner. Inside the unit is the condenser coil that releases into the atmosphere the heat absorbed from your indoor air. Since the unit is kept outside, it can easily get covered with vegetation and dirt. Unfortunately, this can make it harder for it to quickly release heat as it should. Consequently, your air conditioner might be forced to run for longer periods than usual trying to push your indoor temperatures to comfortable levels. Unfortunately, this will have the effect of pushing your energy bills higher, which will consequently hurt your bank account. The good news is that as long as your AC repair company diagnoses the underlying cause of this issue accurately, it should be fairly easy for professionals to fix it. Your AC repair company will just have to clear the area around the outdoor unit and clean the unit professionally to restore its optimal performance and consequently lower your energy bills. You will then be advised on the need to schedule routine air conditioning maintenance to ensure that such issues are fixed before they can start taking a toll on the efficiency of your HVAC system.
Low Refrigerant Level
The refrigerant is one of the most important parts of your air conditioner. It circulates between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil through some hoses. The evaporator coil is located in the indoor unit, while the condenser coil is found in the outdoor unit. When your air conditioner is running, the refrigerant in the evaporator coil absorbs heat from your indoor air before it is pumped to the condenser coil, from where the heat is released into the atmosphere. The refrigerant is then pumped back to the evaporator coil for the process to restart. For your air conditioner to work optimally, it must have an adequate amount of refrigerant. Therefore, if the refrigerant has been leaking for some reason and its level has dropped significantly, your air conditioner will struggle to cool your Fort Worth, TX house, meaning that it will need to work harder than necessary and consequently consume more electricity than before.
However, even if you are sure that the refrigerant is leaking, this is not an issue you should be tempted to fix yourself unless you are a professional HVAC expert. This is because the refrigerant is a highly toxic chemical that is known to cause refrigerant poisoning- a condition that is associated with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, refrigerant poisoning can lead to issues such as fainting, seizure, and even death. Therefore, when you notice that your air conditioner is losing its efficiency because the refrigerant level is low, it is imperative for you to call an AC repair company to handle the issue for you. Your AC repair company will easily locate the leaks and seal them decisively. The experts will then refill the refrigerant to restore or improve the efficiency of your air conditioner.
The Thermostat Is Faulty
The thermostat plays an important role in making your heating and air conditioning system more energy efficient. It does this by automating the operation of your heating and air conditioning system. As such, your heater and air conditioner run only when necessary. Therefore, once your heater or air conditioner has achieved your ideal temperature, the thermostat automatically switches it off. The heater or air conditioner will then be automatically switched on when the temperatures go beyond your preset range. If the thermostat is broken, it might fail to respect the parameters you have set, meaning that your air conditioner or heater might end up running for extended hours, which means that it might end up consuming more energy than it needs to. In such a situation, you will need a heating and AC repair company to either repair or replace your thermostat. If your thermostat needs to be replaced, your heating and AC repair company might advise you to invest in a smart thermostat, which should give you more control over the operation of your heating and air conditioning system and consequently push your energy bills lower.
Dirty Furnace Burners
If your furnace is powered by natural gas or propane, the condition of its burners can have a significant impact on your heater’s energy efficiency. If the burners are covered with dirt and debris, you can expect your heating system to struggle to keep your house warm. This is because dirty burners do not burn fuel efficiently, meaning that your heater might require more gas or propane than before to keep your house warm. The good news is that this is an issue that is quite easy for your heating and AC repair company to diagnose by simply checking the color of the flame. Your heating and AC repair company will then clean your furnace and advise you on how often you should get your furnace cleaned to improve the efficiency of your Fort Worth, TX home.
The Bottom Line
Overall, it is apparent that many issues can cause your heating and air conditioning system to lose efficiency and consequently start consuming more energy than before. Fortunately, most of these issues are easy for an experienced heating and air conditioner repair company to diagnose and fix. Experts can also advise you on what you can do to avoid some of them. If you are looking for a reliable heating and AC repair company to help you fix an HVAC inefficiency issue in your Fort Worth, TX, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth is an excellent HVAC contractor to consider. Feel free to us today for more information about our company and services.