8 Signs That You Need To Schedule An Appointment For Air Conditioning Service | Azle, TX
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During the hot summer months, you spend most of your time inside to avoid the blistering heat. Summers in Azle, TX can get very hot. On an average day, the temperature can reach 97 degrees. You won’t get too much relief at night because it only drops down to about 75 degrees. Summers are also humid, which makes it feel a lot warmer than it really is. The best way to remain comfortable is to spend most of your free time in your air-conditioned home. If your air conditioner experiences a complete breakdown, it will be impossible to stay cool in your home.
The best way to avoid a complete AC breakdown is to recognize the early signs that you need to schedule an appointment for air conditioning service. If you can detect the signs early, you can prevent a minor issue from becoming a major one, which can help keep your air conditioner up and running all summer long.
If the air conditioner in your home is experiencing any of the issues below, it is best to immediately call for air conditioning service.
#1 Warm Air Blowing From the Vents
Warm air coming from the vents is the most obvious sign that you need to schedule an appointment for an air conditioning service. Before you schedule the appointment, you should check the settings on the thermostat. First, make sure that the thermostat is set to the cooling mode. If it isn’t, your air conditioning won’t kick on and produce cold air, causing the issue. Next, check the setting on the thermostat. For the air conditioner to kick on, the setting on the thermostat needs to be colder than the current temperature in your home. If it is cooler in the house than the setting on the thermostat, making the adjustment will cause your air conditioner to kick on, and cold air will come from the vents.
If the thermostat is set correctly, you should schedule an appointment for air conditioning service immediately. There could be an issue with the AC’s compressor, or your system could be low on refrigerant. These are issues that should only be handled by a licensed HVAC tech. They will inspect the unit to find the source of the problem and make the necessary repair. When they are finished, your home will be cool and comfortable again.
#2 Inadequate Airflow
If there is cold air coming from the vents in your home, but the airflow is poor, it will be difficult for your home to reach the desired temperature. There are a couple of causes of this issue. The first is an issue with the air ducts. Over the course of a year, up to 15 pounds of dust, dirt, pet dander, and other debris can build up in the air ducts, obstructing the airflow. Not only will this make it difficult for your air conditioner to keep your home cool, but it can also cause poor air quality in your home. This debris will circulate throughout the home, causing you and your family to develop allergy symptoms. There could also be a crack or a leak in the air ducts. This will cause the cool air to escape through the ducts, causing inadequate airflow.
Inadequate airflow can cause more issues than just the temperature in your home. If the airflow is poor, your air conditioner will need to work overtime to reach the desired temperature. This can cause an increase in your energy bill. Also, when your system works overtime, it will put excess strain on your system, reducing your air conditioner’s lifespan.
The issue could also be due to an issue with the compressor or the fan.
Due to the uncertainty, it is best to schedule an appointment for an air conditioning service. An HVAC tech will inspect your air ducts and the system to determine the cause of the problem so they can make the necessary repair.
#3 Thermostat Issues
The thermostat in your Azle, TX home is your HVAC system’s brain. It tells your system when to turn on and off, and how warm or cool you want your home. If you are having issues with your thermostat, it is best to schedule an appointment or air conditioning service right away. There are a few issues that will tell you there is an issue with the thermostat. These include:
- The thermostat has no power (check the batteries before calling a professional)
- Your air conditioner won’t turn on.
- Your air conditioner is constantly running and won’t kick off when your home reaches the desired temperature.
- The temperature in the home and the thermostat setting don’t match.
- Short cycles
When you schedule an appointment for an air conditioning service, you should discuss your options. Thermostat technology has advanced, and if your thermostat is old, there are more convenient options that can save you money.
- Programmable thermostats: Programmable thermostats allow you to schedule temperature changes. For example, you can program the thermostat to turn down when nobody is home. You can also program the thermostat to turn the air conditioner up before you get home, allowing you to walk into a cool house. Programmable thermostats are great because they can cause a significant decrease in your energy bill.
- Wi-Fi thermostats: Wi-Fi thermostats can be controlled using your Smartphone or tablet from anywhere in the world, as long as there is an internet connection. When you can control your air conditioner from anywhere in the world, you can save money on your energy bills.
- Smart thermostats: Smart thermostats can be controlled by the sound of your voice. You will need to have an Amazon Alexa or a Google Nest to go along with the smart thermostat. You can also control the thermostat from the app on your Smartphone.
If the HVAC tech tells you that your thermostat needs to be replaced, it is best to go with one of these options because you can save money.
#4 Strange Smells Coming From the Vents
If you smell something strange when your air conditioner is on, you should schedule an appointment for air conditioning service immediately. If you turned on your air conditioner for the first time of the cooling season, it is not uncommon to smell dust. This smell should dissipate within a couple of minutes.
If you smell mold when your system is running, you have a more serious problem. When it is humid, moisture can form in the air ducts. Because the air ducts are dark, it becomes the perfect breeding ground for mold. There could also be mold in the system itself. When your air conditioner is turned on, mold spores can circulate throughout the home, and your family will breathe them in. This can cause allergy symptoms, lung problems, and heart problems. If a member of your family has a chronic lung condition such as bronchitis, asthma, or COPD, breathing in mold spores can make their condition worse and exasperate their symptoms.
It is best to schedule an appointment for an air conditioning service as soon as you notice the smell. If there is mold in the air ducts, an HVAC tech can clean it using an antimicrobial fogger. This will remove the mold, and it will prevent mold growth in the future. If the mold is in the system, they will use an antimicrobial spray to clean the areas where there is mold growth.
If you smell something burning when your air conditioner is running, you should turn the system off immediately and schedule an appointment for air conditioning service. There is likely a short in the wiring, which could result in a destructive electrical fire.
Any strange smells will require the assistance of a professional specializing in air conditioning service.
#5 Strange Sounds When Your Air Conditioner Is Running
If the air conditioner in your Azle, TX home is functioning properly, you shouldn’t hear anything more than a low-level clicking when the system kicks on and off. Any other sounds would require the assistance of a professional specializing in air conditioning service. The issue with the air conditioner depends on the sound you hear. For example:
- A banging or clanking sound often signifies a loose or broken part.
- A constant clicking sound signifies a defective control or thermostat.
- A buzzing sound signifies debris in the indoor or outdoor unit, fan blades out of balance, the coils or air filter need to be cleaned, or a faulty blower.
- Screaming signifies extremely high pressure in the compressor, which is very dangerous. You should turn off the AC immediately and call for air conditioning service.
Each of these issues is serious and should not be ignored. It is best to call for air conditioning service as soon as you hear the sound.
#6 Moisture Or Water Pooling Around the Unit
You should never see moisture or water pooling around your air conditioning unit. If you do, schedule an appointment for air conditioning service immediately. The issue could be something minor, like a loose or broken condensate hose. This is a relatively easy fix and should only be handled by an HVAC tech. It could also be something more serious, like a refrigerant leak. If this is the case, you will need an HVAC tech to repair the leak and refill the refrigerant.
If you have an old air conditioner that uses R-22 refrigerant, you have a problem. This refrigerant has been deemed toxic and harmful to the environment by the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States government. Because of this, the R-22 refrigerant has been banned. If you have a refrigerant leak, you may need to have your air conditioning system replaced with a newer model that uses a different type of refrigerant.
#7 Your Home Is Humid
The air conditioning system in your Azle, TX home is designed to do more than pump out cold air. It is also designed to remove the humidity in your home. If your home is more humid than normal, you should schedule an appointment for air conditioning repair.
Your system may need to be recalibrated, which is a relatively easy fix. The high humidity could also signify that your air conditioner has reached its maximum lifespan and needs to be replaced.
You will need the assistance of a professional specializing in air conditioning service to determine why your home is so humid so that they can resolve the issue.
#8 Unusually High Energy Bills
If you have been living in your Azle, TX home for at least one cooling season, you should have an idea of your energy use. If you notice that your energy bills are unusually higher than in previous summers, your air conditioner could be to blame. There are a few issues that could be causing the increase.
- A broken thermostat switch
- Leaks in the air ducts
- Your air conditioner needs to be turned up.
- Your air conditioner is no longer working efficiently and needs to be replaced.
When you schedule an appointment for an air conditioning service, the HVAC tech will inspect the unit and the air ducts to determine the source of the problem.
Why Choose One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating Of Fort Worth?
If you have issues with the air conditioner in your Azle, TX home and want to work with the best in the business, schedule an appointment with One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating Of Fort Worth. We have been serving customers in the area since 1988. Thanks to the excellent service we provide, many of our regular customers have been working with us for 20 years.
We understand that trusting the tech you allow into your home is important. This is why all of our employees must pass a background check, a drug test and register with the state of Texas before they are hired. We want you to feel safe when our HVAC techs enter your home.
Our HVAC techs are highly trained, and NATE certified, which should give you peace of mind that we will get the job done right the first time. HVAC technology is changing all the time; therefore, our techs are required to receive ongoing training to stay up-to-date on the latest technology.
Your comfort is important to us, which is why we offer emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Air conditioning issues can arise at the most inconvenient times and not always during regular business hours. If you call for air conditioning service outside of our regular hours, we will do our best to get to your home as quickly as we would if you had called during regular business hours.
To schedule an appointment for air conditioning service, give us a call today.