Home AC Repair Basics For Homeowners | Fort Worth, TX
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There are few things more intimidating than the idea of dealing with AC repair in Fort Worth, TX during the summer months. Both the idea of being without AC and finding an available HVAC technician can seem daunting. However, it is not impossible and if your system is showing signs of trouble it is very important that you pay attention so that you don’t end up needing AC replacement instead. The longer you wait to initiate repairs the more damage will ensue, so this is not something you want to put off for any reason.
That said, the number one way to avoid finding yourself in this situation is by keeping up with regular AC service and maintenance. Most companies recommend you have your AC serviced every year and we couldn’t agree more. Regular AC maintenance is the best thing you can do for your AC system and given how much you are paying for your air conditioning, it is a very worthwhile investment. Think of it like an oil change for your car, sometimes it can be a pain but it is the best way to make sure your AC remains reliable for years to come. ‘
It doesn’t have to be something that you dread or something that you avoid once you get in the habit. We have a lot of customers that time their AC service to coincide with a birthday or some other regular event like the start of the school year so they have a regular reminder that helps them stay on track. While it is recommended that you book an AC service towards the start of the spring so that you can rest assured your AC will be ready to go when the Fort Worth, TX summer starts to heat up, there is no wrong time of year to follow through and complete your service.
You will probably see immediate results as most people notice that their utility bills drop a bit after an AC service as the result of cleaning out debris and junk that was slowing down their system. Once you see this, you will likely be more encouraged to book your service for next year as well. In addition, service gives us the chance to look inside your HVAC unit and see if there is any damage that might crop up later in the season and cause any issues.
If we notice worn-out parts or components we will recommend AC repair that you can take care of before the summer heats up so that you don’t have to worry about spending a day without any air. Even if you get your AC serviced in the summer, schedule AC repair is still the better scenario compared to waiting until your system breaks and then waiting a few more days for an AC company to actually have an opening and come to your home to fix the problem.
Benefits of Regular AC Service
We have mentioned a few benefits of regular AC service, but there are a lot more that makes it very worthwhile to book your AC service now if it has been a while since you have. If you have never had an AC service, then there is a good chance that you are going to need an AC service that will result in an AC repair, so the time to act is now. The longer you put it off the greater the chance that you will end up needing extensive AC repair following a breakdown, and this is not a situation we like to see any of our clients end up in.
On average we recommend that you schedule an annual AC service, so if you haven’t had a service or any type of air conditioning repair in the last year or so now is a good time to proactively call us. Even those who own new AC units will want to schedule a service in order to keep their warranties valid. A lot of homeowners do not realize that they need to schedule an annual AC service or their warranty will be voided. That means even if mechanical issues arise in your brand new AC unit, you will not be covered. When you consider the costs of AC repair or replacement, it makes sense to schedule a yearly service to ensure that your warranty is valid in the case of an issue.
Outside of keeping your warranty valid, regular AC service adds a lot of other values to your home. For instance, it is the number one way to improve the air quality within your home. Most homes in Fort Worth, TX do not get a lot of fresh air during the summer months because they are locked up tight so that the hot air doesn’t sneak in. That means that the air circulating in your home is probably very much recycled at this point. While it is great from an energy-efficiency standpoint, it may not be so great from an indoor air quality standpoint. Luckily, AC service is a great way to make sure the air you are breathing is good for you.
Air pollution is more common than you think indoors because your HVAC machine can collect dirt particles, dust, debris, bacteria, viruses, mold, and mildew. You don’t want to breathe any of these on a regular basis. During an AC service, the system is cleaned thoroughly and if the HVAC technician notices an abundance of any of these pollutants they may recommend that they come back for more AC repair and install a humidifier, dehumidifier, or UV lights within your HVAC system. This is a very easy process in most cases and can greatly improve the air quality in your home overnight. Depending on the situation it may also help reduce future AC repairs due to mold, mildew, or moisture issues, so it’s worth considering if it is recommended to you.
Common Signs It’s Time for AC Repair
Of course, even with regular service sometimes your AC will require repair in Fort Worth, TX. Even the best-kept machines are still just machines at the end of the day and pieces wear down and start to show signs of wear. When this happens you need to make sure that you take prompt action to book AC repair so that you don’t end up with a broken down AC system. An AC that requires repair is much better than an AC system that does not function at all. Given the unbearable heat, you don’t want to find yourself in the latter situation.
One common sign that it is time for AC repair is if you notice your system doing something that is known as rapid cycling. Rapid cycling is an HVAC problem that occurs when the system turns on and off frequently throughout the day. Usually, this signals that your thermostat is not working correctly, but it can also signal that your AC is failing to properly cool your home during the cycle forcing it to fun more frequently. In either case, you need to make sure you call an HVAC company quickly if you notice this issue.
The problem with frequent cycling is that it wears down your system incredibly fast. The process of starting up is the roughest on your AC unit, so if your unit is kicking in hundreds of times a day you are putting an incredible demand on all of its mechanical parts. At this point, it is only a matter of time before it stops running altogether. Therefore, you need to take action quickly if you notice that you are in this predicament and call for AC repair right away. As a side note, the most energy is also consumed during the startup process, so if your AC is cycling repeatedly all day you are probably going to notice your energy bills spiking.
Another common sign that AC repair is imminent is if you notice odd sounds coming from either your indoor or outdoor unit. AC units are designed to run quietly, so any abnormal sounds are something that needs to be immediately looked into. Some people get used to clicking or banging noises happening sporadically and denote that as their new normal, but it’s not normal, and it’s a big indication that AC repair is needed. If you don’t deal with the issue head-on there is a very good chance that eventually your AC is going to break down. At the very least you will end up paying more for energy because the odd noises you are hearing are a sign that your system is no longer working efficiently or the way that it is supposed to.
Warning Signs You Need Emergency Repair Services
While you would be wise to head these signs that you need AC repair, there are other signs that are even more important to pay attention to. These signs indicate that you need emergency repair service or end up in a much worse situation. The most obvious sign that it is time for emergency AC repair is if your system breaks down altogether. At this point, you can’t just leave it off and hope that it will miraculously turn back on later in the day. It won’t and by then your home will probably be almost unbearable to anyone inside of it.
Another emergency sign of AC repair is if you smell smoke or electrical burning coming out of your air vents. This usually indicates that something is wrong with the writing of your HVAC system and the best thing you can do is turn off your HVAC directly from the circuit box. While we know no one wants to turn off their AC in the middle of a Fort Worth, TX summer, it is better to be safe than sorry because if left unaddressed it is possible that the short might cause a fire within your home. We have even seen rodents chew through electrical wires before because they commonly nest in the ductwork of homes. This creates a big mess to deal with and one that has to be properly addressed by an HVAC professional.
Electricity is not the only thing that you should worry about with your HVAC system. If your AC is hooked up to your HVAC system then you should also be conscious that you don’t smell gas coming out of your vents either. Even if you are not running your furnace, it is possible for a gas leak to occur for a variety of reasons. If the gas valve loosens or starts to leak you may notice natural gas smells coming out of your air vents. The gas itself is scentless, but usually, an additive that smells like rotten eggs or sulfur is added so that you can identify it.
This is a huge emergency that needs to be dealt with quickly and safely. If you suspect that you smell gas coming out of your air vents you need to get everyone (and pets) out of your home as quickly as possible and call a Fort Worth, TX HVAC company and your gas company immediately. When leaving your home refrain from turning off any lights or doing anything that might cause an electrical spark since you do not know for sure whether or not there is a gas leak in your home and you don’t want to do anything that might cause an ignition. Once you know for sure that you can safely reenter your home following an investigation from your gas company or AC repair, you can worry about those things.
Whether you have noticed one of the above signs or simply are concerned that something is wrong with your AC, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth can help. Our qualified team of expert technicians can fix most AC problems quickly, and if the situation arises where AC repair is not enough, we are able to offer complete AC installation solutions. Give us a call today to find out how we can help you keep your home cool this summer.