Signs It Is Time For Air Conditioning Repair | Fort Worth, TX
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No one wants their A/C to suddenly fail in Fort Worth, TX. While the winter months are a bit more bearable than the summer months, sitting inside sweating is never a good look. However, most of the time an HVAC system does not stop working out of thin air. There are usually signs that you need to book air conditioning repair, you probably just don’t notice them. Being aware of some of the most frequent signs that your air conditioning system is failing is the best way to call for air conditioning repair before you find yourself stuck in an emergency situation.
HVAC systems are complicated, intricate, and frustrating beasts. Unlike other appliances that have basic features, a lot of moving parts need to be working just right in order for the entire system to function correctly. With this in mind, here are a few of the top signs that your AC may be in need of air conditioning repair. If you notice any of these signs or have any other questions, always call a local Fort Worth, TX heating and cooling company for help. Planned repairs are always less hassle and less expensive than emergency calls.
Decreased Airflow
Decreased airflow is one of the first signs that people notice when they start to wonder about whether or not it is time for air conditioning repair. If you notice that the air coming out of your air vents feels less forceful or you don’t even feel anything near your vents this is a clear sign that you need to call a local Fort Worth, TX HVAC company. If the air is not coming out of your vents correctly it will not circulate properly in your home. The end result is that either your home will not cool or it won’t cool evenly depending on the extent of the issue. This means that you will be paying for cool air that you will not actually be getting.
Usually, if you notice a drop in airflow the problem has to do with either the air ducts or your compressor. If you call in an expert for air conditioning repair they will take a look at your entire system to determine what the problem is so they can restore airflow. Not only will this make your home more comfortable again, but it will increase the efficiency of your system which in turn will drop your monthly efficiency bills. Thus, instead of ignoring the issue you should call an air conditioning repair company and get the problem taken care of as soon as possible.
Warm Air Coming from Your Vents
The only thing worse than decreased airflow is when warm air starts flowing out your air vents- in the summertime. It’s a safe bet that most homes in Fort Worth, TX are never going to touch the heater setting on their thermostat during the winter months, and some people hardly hit it during the winter months as well. Therefore, if warm air is coming out of your vents you most likely have a problem and need air conditioning repair from a local Fort Worth, TX company now.
The very first thing you need to do is check your thermostat to ensure that it didn’t accidentally get bumped. While unlikely, it is a simple step that takes less than a minute and could solve the problem quickly. However, if your thermostat is set correctly then your next call should be for air conditioning repair. Warm air coming out your vents most likely means that there is a problem with the compressor or your system is getting low on refrigerant. Both scenarios will require a trained Fort Worth, TX HVAC technician. If there is a technical issue with the compressor someone with experience will need to open up your system and take a closer look.
If the problem is refrigerant, it is a simple fix, but one that only a properly licensed professional can handle. Refrigerants are heavily regulated and you need a licensed technician to handle this type of air conditioning repair. If both of these issues check out, it is possible that your ducts are not working correctly and the air is getting pulled from an attic space or outdoor area instead of from the compressor, but a trained technician ought to be able to troubleshoot this issue quickly as well.
Your A/C System Is Making Odd Noises
First of all, your A/C system should only make a gentle humming noise when it is on, you should not be used to it making any other noise. Therefore, any other noise you hear outside of the gentle hum of flowing air should be considered odd. People have a habit of writing odd things off as the “new normal,” but this type of behavior can land you with an expensive repair bill that could have been avoided. The longer you ignore a problem, the less likely it is that air conditioning repair will do the trick. Instead, you increase the likelihood of severe damage that will require you to replace the entire A/C unit to replace. You don’t want to end up there, so at the first sign of odd noises seek help.
With that in mind, there are a few sounds that are very common among HVAC systems that require air conditioning repair or at least some fine-tuning. For instance, if you hear clicking outside of your home coming from the outdoor unit, this could be a sign that something has dropped into the fan area. Anything from a leaf to an acorn to the shell of a dead cockroach could be causing the problem. You will want to closely look at the fan while it is not running and remove anything that could be possibly hitting it. On the other hand, if you hear this clicking noise but the unit won’t actually turn on this is a sign that there is probably an electrical issue somewhere. At this point, you will need to call to get air conditioning repair services from a professional in Fort Worth, TX.
You also don’t want to hear your outdoor unit banging or clanging. This can indicate that the fan is actually hitting something instead of just clipping something. In some cases you may be able to see a large obstruction which then obviously has an easy solution, in other cases, there may not be an obstruction. In this situation, it is likely that the fan is starting to come loose and is no longer swinging evenly. You will want to call for air conditioning repair before the fan gets permanently bent out of shape or breaks on its own. The situation will not correct itself, and eventually, the wobbling will lead to hitting the cage one too many times and damage will ensue.
Another indication that your fan is off-balance is a screeching noise coming from the outdoor unit. The fan hitting the sides of the cage can cause the metal scratching or the fan motor bearings wearing down may be causing the squeaking noise. At this point, you will probably need to have your fan replaced, but the good news is that if you do it semi-quickly you probably won’t need to replace the entire outdoor unit.
Finally, there are also sounds that you don’t want to hear coming from your indoor unit. Squealing noises can indicate that your fan belt is starting to wear out. This is one sound that may come and go giving you a false sense of security in between, but if the belt is squealing then eventually it is just going to snap at which point you won’t have any AC. It is better to call for air conditioning repair and replace the belt before it snaps so you don’t have to deal with an unwanted heat spell.
Another sound you don’t want to hear from your indoor unit is a hissing noise. Usually, if something sounds like it is hissing it is coming from the compressor. This is actually a very large problem that could cause a lot of damage. The hissing may indicate that pressure is building up within your HVAC system, which could cause it to explode and the need for air conditioning repair. Most modern HVAC systems have a switch that would shut off the entire system before this happens, but it is a good idea to turn off the system just in case.
Thermostat Quits Working
While the A/C system does the brunt of the work, your thermostat is responsible for telling it what to do. In short, your A/C system produces cool air, but your thermostat tells it to do so. If your thermostat is not working correctly then your system will not run correctly either. If you notice that your A/C system has started cycling in weird patterns or is turning on and off for short periods at uneven intervals it is possible that your thermostat needs replaced.
If you suspect that something is wrong with your thermostat it is time to call for air conditioning repair because you will be wasting money and potentially hurting your system by allowing uneven cycles to continue.A technician can ascertain that it is the thermostat causing the problem and then replace it if necessary.
Your Home Feels Humid
While the first goal of a properly functioning HVAC system should be to cool the air, the second goal should be to reduce humidity within your home. If there is a high amount of humidity in your home then your A/C system is not functioning properly and a call to an HVAC specialist is in order. While this may not seem urgent, it actually is imperative that you take prompt action instead of waiting around to see if something changes.
Fort Worth, TX is very humid during the summers, and if the air in your home is very humid then it will prompt the growth of mildew and mold. You don’t want either of these things in your home because their presence can lead to major health issues. It is not healthy to breathe air that contains mold spores and in some cases, it can even be deadly over time. In light of this, a call for air conditioning repair should pale by comparison.
Leaks Around the Indoor Unit
It is normal for a very small amount of condensate to appear from time to time close to the system, but it should never be enough to actually feel wet. If you notice any moisture build-up or a leak that is an odd color then you need to call an HVAC specialist right away. An odd color or excess moisture could point towards a refrigerant leak which is a very dangerous type of leak to have. Refrigerants are poisonous and need to be taken care of right now. You also may have a condensate leak as a result of a broken or blocked drain line. Both of these situations can be easily fixed if you call a trained technician out to your home.
At One Hour Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth we are known for our prompt air conditioning repair service and skilled technicians. If you have noticed one of these problems or have any reason at all to suspect that something is wrong with your home air conditioning system give us a call. True to our name, we can send someone out quickly to figure out why your A/C isn’t working correctly so that you can lay back and enjoy cool air in the safety of your home. We also offer routine servicing to ensure your system is always running at its best.