Problems That Require AC Repair | Fort Worth, TX
Your air conditioner will keep your home cool and comfortable when it gets hot during the summer. If you’re like most people, you spend more time inside when it’s really hot to escape the heat.
Air conditioning issues can affect your home’s temperature, and some problems can put your home and family at risk, so the problem must be resolved quickly.
Many homeowners today make home repairs DIY projects in hopes of saving money. Although some repairs are great DIY projects, air conditioner repair isn’t one of them. Your air conditioner is a complex appliance, and one simple mistake can cause further damage that requires more work, and the repair bill will be more expensive. Also, you should never work with electricity without the necessary training due to the risk of being electrocuted.
If your air conditioner experiences any of the following problems, it’s best to call an AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX.
#1 Warm Air Coming from the Vents
If your air conditioner is working correctly, you should feel cold air coming from the vents. If you feel warm air, you may need to hire a professional in AC repair, but you should check a few things before making the call.
First, make sure the thermostat is set correctly. If it isn’t set right, the unit won’t get the proper signal and won’t produce cold air. The thermostat must be set to the heating mode, and it has to be warmer in the house than the temperature setting. Also, make sure the fan is set to auto. If the fan is on, it will keep running between cycles, and you’ll feel warm air coming from the vents.
Next, check the air filter. If it’s covered in dirt and grime, it will prevent airflow in the unit, causing it to overheat and produce cold air.
If the thermostat is set correctly and the air filter is cleaned, you should call an AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX. Without air conditioning, the temperature in your house can reach 120 degrees on a 90-degree day, making it impossible to be comfortable. Also, high temperatures can put your family at risk for heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, so it’s best to make the call immediately.
A few issues can prevent the unit from producing cold air, and you’ll need a licensed HVAC tech to determine the cause. The possible problems include:
- Refrigerant leak: Your air conditioner relies on refrigerant to produce cold air, and if there’s a leak, the supply will be depleted, and the unit will produce warm air.
Refrigerant leaks occur as a result of normal wear and tear. Also, acid can eat away the metal, creating tiny holes that allow the refrigerant to leak.
If your air conditioner was installed after 2010, an AC repair service will send a tech to fix the leak and refill the refrigerant.
If the unit was installed before 2010, the tech won’t waste time fixing the leak. Older units used R-22 refrigerant, which was banned in the United States because it’s toxic and depletes the ozone layer. If the tech fixes the leak, they won’t have the right type of refrigerant to refill the unit, and your only option will be to replace the air conditioner. - Frozen evaporator coils: The evaporator coils play an essential role in keeping your home cool and comfortable. They extract the heat and humidity from the house to start the cooling process. If the evaporator coils freeze, they can’t do their job, and you’ll need to hire a professional in AC repair.
Several issues can cause the coils to freeze, including:- Dirty evaporator coils
- Refrigerant problems
- Lack of airflow in the unit
- Dirty air filter
- Blocked air ducts
- You ran the AC when it was too cold outside
- An AC repair tech can thaw the coils to allow the cooling process to begin. They will also try to figure out why the coils froze to prevent it from happening again.
- Faulty Compressor: The indoor unit can’t produce cold air on its own and works with the outdoor compressor. If there’s no power going to the compressor or something is broken, causing it to overheat, you’ll feel warm air coming from the vents.
An AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX, can send a tech to inspect the compressor and make the necessary repair.
Living in your house with no air conditioning can be miserable, so it’s best to call a professional to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.
#2 Poor Airflow
If the air conditioner is working correctly, you should feel a powerful rush of cold air from the vents. If you feel minimal airflow, a call to an AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX, is essential.
Reduced airflow will affect your home’s temperature, and the AC must work harder to keep your house comfortable. The extra work will cause the unit to consume more energy, and your electric bills will increase. Also, the extra work will put excess strain on the unit, reducing its lifespan, and you’ll have to replace it sooner.
A few issues can result in poor airflow, including:
- Broken blower: Your air conditioner has a blower designed to force the cold air from the unit through the air ducts and to the vents. If the blower isn’t working, there will be no force of cold air, and you’ll feel minimal airflow when standing in front of the vents.
An HVAC tech can inspect the blower to determine if it can be repaired or if a replacement is the best option, restoring adequate airflow.
- Clogged air ducts: This is the most common cause of restricted airflow. Regardless of how clean you keep your house, dirt, dust, and debris will accumulate in the air ducts. In just one year, up to five pounds can accumulate, and over time, the debris will clog the ducts, preventing the air from reaching the vents. Dirty air ducts will also affect your home’s air quality. The debris in the ducts will circulate in the air when the AC runs and could cause your family to develop allergy symptoms, including a stuffy or runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, a scratchy throat, and respiratory problems.
An AC repair service can send a tech to clean the ducts, restoring adequate airflow. - Damaged air ducts: The air ducts in your house are hidden under the floor, above the ceiling, or behind the walls, depending on the layout. Since the ducts are hidden, you won’t be able to see visible damage, and the only sign is poor airflow. If there’s a crack or break in the ducts or the sealant is no longer air-tight, the cold air will escape before reaching the vents.
An AC repair professional can inspect the air ducts for damage and repair the damaged areas to restore adequate airflow.
Poor airflow will affect your home’s temperature and your bank account, so it’s best to have the problem fixed as quickly as possible.
#3 Strange Smells
Your air conditioner shouldn’t produce a smell if it’s working right. It’s not uncommon to smell dust when you use the air conditioner for the first time during the cooling season, but the smell will dissipate within minutes. If you smell anything other than dust when the unit runs, call an AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX, as soon as possible. The odor you smell can give you an idea of what’s wrong.
- Burning: If you smell something burning only when the air conditioner runs, the odor indicates a wiring issue, and you smell the wire insulation burning. This is a serious problem because faulty wiring can start an electrical fire that can destroy your house in minutes. You should turn off the air conditioner as soon as you detect the smell and schedule an appointment for emergency AC repair. The HVAC tech will inspect the unit to find the faulty wire and replace it before a disaster occurs.
- Mold: A moldy smell typically indicates mold in the air ducts. As mentioned earlier, the ducts are hidden, and light doesn’t shine in them. When your home gets humid, condensation will form, creating a hospitable environment for mold growth.
A foul smell is the least of your problems, and mold in the ducts can put your family’s health at significant risk. When the air conditioner runs, mold spores will circulate in the air, putting your family at risk for mold-related health issues, including:- Allergy symptoms
- Burning eyes, nose, and throat
- Chronic headaches
- Skin rashes
- Respiratory issues
- Weakened immune system
- Worsens chronic lung or respiratory conditions
- An AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX, will send a tech to inspect the air ducts for mold, which can be easily eradicated with an antimicrobial fogger. If they don’t find mold in the ducts, it’s likely in the air conditioner. Mold in the AC is more challenging to eradicate, and if the tech cannot get every last spore, you’ll need to replace the unit. Whether the tech was able to rid the unit of mold, you should consider installing a UV lamp in the unit to prevent future mold growth.
#4 Your Home Is Humid
Your air conditioner should do more than keep the house cool and control the humidity. If it’s very humid in your home when the air conditioner runs, it’s best to call an AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX, to find out why. Before you make the call, check the thermostat to ensure the fan is set to auto rather than on. If the fan is set correctly, it’s time to schedule an appointment for AC repair.
A few issues can prevent the unit from dehumidifying your home, including:
- Dirty evaporator coils
- Refrigerant leak
- Leaky ductwork
If your air conditioner was recently installed and the home is humid, it could be too large for your home and will cycle too frequently to eliminate the humidity.
An AC repair tech can inspect the unit to determine the cause so they can resolve the issue.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth Today
If your air conditioner is acting up and you need to call an AC repair service, look no further than One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. We’re a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area since 1988, and many of our customers have been working with us for decades.
Our heating and AC repair techs are professionally trained, NATE certified, and have the knowledge and skill to handle the most challenging jobs in the HVAC industry.
HVAC technology is constantly evolving, so our techs receive ongoing training to ensure they can install, maintain, and repair the latest HVAC models. Our techs must also pass a drug test and background checks and register with the state of Texas so you feel safe and comfortable when they’re working in your home.
HVAC issues can affect your home’s comfort, and some can put your home and family at risk, so we provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you have an HVAC issue that must be addressed immediately, we’ll get tech to your home as quickly as possible to resolve the issue.
We have an excellent reputation in the community, with a 5-star rating on Google. We’re also an Accredited Business with the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, which means they’ve never received any complaints about our business or service.
We do our best to make HVAC repair and maintenance affordable. If you need to replace your system, we’ll work with you to stay within your budget. Also, our knowledgeable staff can give you the latest information about programs and rebates to save money on the cost of the equipment.
If you need to schedule an appointment for AC repair or any other HVAC service, give us a call today.