Top Signs You Need AC Repair And Preventing AC Repair Issues | Fort Worth, TX
No one in Fort Worth, TX wants to come home after a long day at work and find out their AC conked out. As it turns out however most AC units will give you ample warning that you’re in dire need of AC Repair. You see when an AC unit is failing they tend to give homeowners signals that something is amiss with the system that lets you know you’re in need of AC Repair. All any homeowner has to do is learn how to read those signs and signals. Once you learn to recognize when your air conditioner needs attention you can avoid even more costly repairs because when you catch most air conditioner issues early, the repair issues tend to be smaller. This is because AC issues can easily become systemic, meaning if one part of your AC breaks down, or begins to fail you can have another part of your system fail. This of course leads to more costly repairs due to multiple parts in your system failing.
Another issue that we see that leads to AC repair is inadequate maintenance done yearly on customers’ AC units in Fort Worth, TX. Many homeowners in Fort Worth, TX do not do their yearly AC tune-up, and this alone leads to many of the AC Repair calls we receive every year. A tune-up is vital to avoiding costly AC Repair issues. The reason why this is so vital is that your AC unit requires routine care. When you avoid giving your AC unit this routine care your entire unit will suffer performance-wise. What is worse is by choosing to not give your AC unit the care it needs you will shorten your AC unit’s lifespan. Most AC units produced today have a listed lifespan of 15 to 20 years, but this long lifespan is based on proper care and maintenance, which includes a yearly AC tune-up.
One of the major benefits of a yearly AC tune-up is that it can catch a repair when the problem is only a minor problem. You see AC problems just tend to escalate, meaning they get worse as time passes. Let’s say you start out with what may seem a relatively minor repair issue, for instance, your refrigerant is running low due to a very small leak in your system. Now let us say for example that you do not hear the hissing sound of the refrigerant escaping your system and you never had your yearly AC tune-up, so now this issue has been going on for some time. Later this low refrigerant issue can cause your evaporator coil to eventually freeze over, and once this happens other components of your system may also begin to fail, this is what we mean when we say AC problems can become systemic unless you make that call for AC Repair early on.
As you can see regular AC tune-ups are essential for catching issues early on, extending and maintaining the lifespan of your AC unit, and also helping to prevent minor AC issues from escalating further. What exactly goes into a tune-up? Well, we are glad you asked! Your AC technician will inspect your entire unit top to bottom, inside and out for starters. This inspection will reveal any parts that may be failing and need replacement, as well as anything that needs to be tightened. Your condenser unit will also be thoroughly cleaned. Believe it or not, dirty AC units are a major cause of breakdowns. The debris for example will often accumulate inside of your condenser which often leads to issues. Another major issue is when your condenser coils become dirty as this will interfere with heat transfer, and when this happens your unit will not cool down your home properly. Your AC tune-up specialist will inspect all electrical components to make sure nothing is loose, frayed, or failing. Your refrigerant levels will be checked and if needed topped off. They will drain your system and clean your drain pan and drain line. All the moving parts of your system will be well lubricated. Your technician will also check your system’s voltage and amperage to make sure everything is as it should be as well as check over your safety controls. Lastly if needed they will install a new air filter as air filters are vital for any air conditioner’s operation.
After your tune-up is complete you may need some minor repairs, depending on what your technician discovers during your tune-up. Luckily most times when problems are discovered they are often minor repair issues. That is one of the major benefits of having your system maintained every year, catching issues while they are small and a more affordable AC Repair. Having this much-needed service done yearly delivers you the customer two key things, dependability, and efficiency. AC tune-ups can reduce the energy use of your AC unit by anywhere from 5 to 15%, which adds up to significant savings for any homeowner, especially these days given the rising costs of power in Fort Worth, TX, and beyond. Lastly, keeping up with your yearly tune-ups helps you keep your warranty intact. Many homeowners forget to get their AC unit properly cared for and then go to use their warranty only to find repairs or replacement is no longer covered due to failing to maintain their unit properly. As you can see an AC tune-up is a great investment and helps you to avoid AC repairs for your home.
Now all you need to do is to learn the top signs of when an air conditioner is starting to fail. As we mentioned earlier in almost all cases your AC unit will give you clues indicating that you’re in need of an AC Repair. We will discuss the top tell-tale signs that your air conditioner needs an AC Repair. You want to make sure your air conditioner is ready for the sweltering summers in Fort Worth, TX so be on the lookout for the signs below:
Your AC Unit Is Making Strange Noises
Every AC unit no matter how well made will have some noise during its normal operation. It is only when you begin to hear strange noises coming from either the unit itself or from your ductwork that you need to worry. Many homeowners begin to hear odd noises emanating from their AC unit yet choose to ignore this all-important clue that they are in need of an AC Repair. When you start to hear noises that you never heard before this is actually a major signal that you should never ever ignore. Chances are if you act quickly the AC Repair issues may not be that bad. Here are the top sounds to be on the lookout for and what they might indicate:
Banging Noises
You should never hear banging noises coming from your air conditioner for example. Often this is due to parts becoming loose inside of the compressor. If this issue is not addressed quickly, key parts of your system can become damaged.
Screeching Noises
This is one sound you never want to hear come from your AC unit. Should you hear this sound you should turn off the air conditioner right away and call for AC Repair as this sound is never a good sound to hear from your unit. This sound often signals a fan motor breakdown or blower fan motor issue. Other causes include issues with the various belts in your system. If you leave the air conditioner running you risk much more damage, so we always advise customers to turn off the unit and make that call for AC Repair right away.
Buzzing Noises
This is one sound you never ever want to hear coming from your unit. There can be many causes of a buzzing sound coming from your AC unit, but one of the most dangerous is when it is coming from the electrical components of your system. You can also hear this noise if you are leaking refrigerant. Other causes include having parts of your unit frozen, which is actually a rather common AC issue, but mostly due to not having had your yearly AC tune-up. Another culprit of this sound is an issue with your condenser fan motor. Regardless of the cause of this sound it nearly always is a serious issue requiring AC Repair.
Humming Noises
If you hear these noises then yes something is wrong, but the good news is that it is likely not too serious. Oftentimes this noise just means you have some parts that are just a little bit loose. You could however be dealing with a condenser fan motor that has seized up, so if you do hear this noise you should still make that call for AC Repair. Rarely this sound can be a serious issue such as an overloaded circuit breaker. It is also not unheard of to have a frozen AC unit make this sound. If you do hear this noise the best advice we can give is to turn off your air conditioner and make that call for AC repair.
Bubbling Sounds
If you hear this noise it most often signals that your system is dealing with excessive moisture. This can be caused by multiple different reasons, some serious and some not so much. You want to err on the side of caution however and call for an inspection of your system. Water can damage your system over time, in fact outside of fire, water is one of the most destructive forces on earth.
Quick Cycling
Another issue to look out for is fast cycling. Fast cycling is when your AC unit turns off and on quickly. When this happens your air conditioner cannot complete the cooling cycle. There can be many causes to this issue, some are simply quick fixes, some can be more in-depth, the key is catching the issue early on and making that call for help as soon as possible as the damage can increase the longer you wait. When an AC unit is breaking down it often cannot keep up with cooling down the home, so it will shut off before the cooling cycle is done. The more damaged your system is will cause this short cycling to happen more often.
Poor Airflow
If you are noticing less airflow of cool air from your vents, you are likely dealing with an issue with your AC system that will need air conditioner repair. If you notice poor airflow in your home you could be dealing with any number of issues, and none of them are good. If cool air is not greeting you when you return home after a long day at work, yes you are dealing with an AC issue. You could be dealing with something as simple as a bad air filter or as serious as a broken motor. You can have many issues that will affect your home’s airflow. One thing to point out is that poor airflow can raise your power bill immensely.
Warm Air
If you have warm air flowing through your vents you for sure have an issue that needs air conditioning repair. Your thermostat could very likely be the issue. Most thermostats these days are new-age ones and interact with your AC unit. If your thermostat says your temp is off then likely you have an issue with your AC system that only air conditioner repair can fix. If you have any of the above issues affecting your air conditioner in the Fort Worth, TX area then call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating. We will get your problem solved quickly and let you breathe a sigh of relief.
If you have any of the above signs of air conditioner issues call the pros at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. We have the experience you need to get your air conditioner repaired fast, yet with the utmost quality and attention being paid to the repair job. If you need AC Repair in Fort Worth, TX, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth.