What Are The Most Frequent Reasons Homeowners Call Us For AC Repairs? | Fort Worth, TX
Summers are one of the year’s most unbearable seasons, especially in Fort Worth, TX. You will understand how hot it can get if you have been in this area or been there during this season. Most people opt to spend their time indoors during the day to escape the unbearable heat and conduct their activities late in the evening. Since air conditioners help maintain cool temperatures in the house, a breakdown or incorrect functioning will leave you stranded in unforgiving temperatures.
Issues with the AC system can affect the humidity and temperature of the house, impacting your home’s air quality. Therefore, if you notice any of the following signs from your AC, it is advisable to schedule an AC repair appointment immediately. Waiting longer can worsen the issue. This can result in an expensive repair bill or full AC breakdown, leaving you and your family stranded.
Restricted Airflow
When your AC system runs in a typical operation, you should experience a strong rush of cold air if standing near the vent. Therefore, if you are not feeling this from your Fort Worth, TX home, it is advisable to contact an AC repair expert. Apart from restricted airflow limiting the airflow and quality in your home, it also causes the system to work harder than it should to maintain your home’s cooling needs. The extra work results in higher energy bills and negatively impacts your AC system’s lifespan. Reduced airflow may be caused by:
Clogged Air Ducts
This is among the leading causes of restricted airflow in many homes. When materials such as dust, dirt, and other debris are not cleaned from the ducts regularly, they form an accumulation in the ducts, narrowing the air passage. Additionally, a clogged air duct affects the air quality of your home. When your air ducts have clogged the air, the conditioner picks up the materials accumulated in the ducts and recirculates them back to your home’s air supply. This puts your family at risk of developing health conditions such as respiratory issues and allergic symptoms. An AC repair expert can help in cleaning your air ducts.
Damages Air Ducts
The air ducts of an AC system are hidden away from eyesight. Hence it is not possible to see the damage within the ducts. However, you can pick up on signs indicating duct damage, such as cold air escaping through some duct areas. Consequently, damaged air ducts reduce your home’s airflow since some of it is getting lost and not reaching its intended destination. An AC repair professional will inspect your air ducts for damage and make the required repair restoring your Fort Worth, TX home’s air supply.
Faulty Blower
The other cause that might be leading to restricted airflow in your home is a faulty blower. In an HVAC system, the blower oversees pushing the already cool air from the system throughout your entire home through the vents. Therefore, if the blower is faulty, the cooled air cannot reach the vent, thus compromising the airflow to your home. To avoid a semi-cold home and unrealistic energy bills, contact an AC repair company immediately if you notice a problem with your airflow.
Strange Sounds
When operating normally, an ac system will make a faint clicking sound. Therefore, when you hear strange sounds such as rattling, screaming, banging, or screeching, it indicates deeper underlying issues with your AC. It is best to schedule an AC repair appointment as soon as you hear any strange sounds since leaving it unattended can result in extensive damage and even a full breakdown. Some of the sounds likely to be experienced by homeowners from their AC systems include;
Screeching Sounds
A screeching sound in an AC system is usually associated with several issues. It could be due to a malfunctioning fan motor in the outside condenser unit. The central AC system in your home has a fan that removes heat from the refrigerant. Therefore, when the fan motor is not working properly, or the motor is broken, your air conditioner will produce a screeching sound. Secondly, a screeching sound from your AC system can emanate if the blower fan motor inside your house is damaged.
The blower fan is responsible for collecting warm air from your house through the return ducts and to your AC system and redistributing the cooled air from the system throughout your home. Finally, you might also notice screeching sounds in your Fort Worth, TX home’s HVAC system if the bearings in the fan motor are damaged or the fan belt is impaired. You should switch off your AC system and call an AC repair technician.
Buzzing Sound
A buzzing sound is one of the serious noises that an AC system can produce and should therefore never be ignored. A buzzing sound can signify unbalanced or loose fan blades in the outdoor condenser unit. A loose fan blade does not only cause noise irritation. It is a disaster waiting to happen since it can damage electrical components in the condenser unit if it were to dislodge. The other major causes of buzzing sounds in an AC system include dirty condenser coils and a faulty outdoor fan motor.
On the other hand, a buzzing sound can also be due to obstruction in the copper lines which connect to the air conditioner. But the most severe issue that could cause your home’s HVAC system to buzz is a leaking refrigerant. Therefore, it is best to be proactive and contact an AC repair technician when you hear buzzing sounds.
Humming Noise
Humming noise in your home’s Ac system could be caused by a defective contactor relay switch. A contactor relay switch is responsible for starting the outdoor condenser unit when the thermostat gives it the signal. Unfortunately, a humming sound indicates one of the issues that can render your AC system non-operational. Therefore, contact an AC repair technician to fix this issue before it leaves you stranded in the unforgiving Fort Worth, TX summer heat.
Clicking Sound
Although it is normal to hear a faint clicking sound when your AC system starts operation and at the end of cooling cycles, continuous clicking noises are a sign of trouble. A continuous clicking sound may be an indication that the thermostat is malfunctioning. Therefore, if you are unsure if the clicking sound on your AC system is normal, contact an AC repair specialist to investigate the issues.
Rattling Sounds
If your AC system is producing ratting sounds, there are two major reasons why this may be happening. For starters, your air conditioner may have loose materials such as leaves, sticks, or dirt in the outdoor condenser unit. However, your AC system might have a damaged electrical contractor in more extreme situations. If left unattended by an AC repair technician, it can cause damage to the compressor.
Warm Air Coming from the Vents
Another significant sign that indicates the need for an AC repair service for your Fort Worth, TX home is the presence of warm air in your vents. When your air conditioner is functioning efficiently, you should feel cool air coming from the vents after going through the Ac system. Therefore, you might need air conditioning experts if you feel warm air instead. However, before placing that call, there are several steps to take.
First, check the thermostat setting. Although you might require cool air, it might be that the thermostat is not correctly set to produce it. Therefore, ensure that the thermostat setting is in cooling mode. Then, counter-check that your fan is set to auto. However, if you perform both these steps and your AC system still produces warm air, contact an AC repair technician for an appointment.
Foul Smell
The primary purpose of having an AC system is to refine your home’s air supply. Therefore, it should make your home temperatures comfortable and produce clean and odorless cool air. Thus, if you smell a distinctive odor every time your system runs, you should see AC repair services from an expert. Some of the smells and their causes in an AC system include;
Mold
The leading cause of foul smell in air conditioning units is the presence of mold in the air ducts. Mold growth and blossom require a dark and humid environment. These two factors are readily available in your home ducts, thus facilitating the conducive breeding ground for mold in your home. When mold establishes itself in the ducts of your house, its spores are blown and circulated by the air conditioner.
Besides producing a foul odor, mold growth and circulation in your home’s air supply exposes your family to hazardous health issues. There are instances when the mold is not in the ducts but in the air conditioner itself. An experienced AC repair tech is well equipped to eradicate mold from your home.
Burning
The other significant cause of smells from your AC system is electrical issues which are signified by a burning smell. This could indicate a wiring or motor issue or an underlying issue with your fan or AC compressor. In some cases, air conditioners produce a burning smell as the system kicks on due to dust in the system. However, it is advisable to notice the pattern of the smell, and if it lingers for more than 30 minutes, it is best to contact an AC repair technician.
Rotten Eggs
The smell of rotten is one of the most dangerous smells to encounter as a Fort Worth, TX homeowner. When you smell rotten eggs or a Sulfur-like odor, it indicates a natural gas leak. Utility providers incorporate this smell into natural gas, which is odorless, to heighten its recognition and safety features. Therefore, immediately leave your house and call for help when you notice this smell. After your house is safely cleared, contacting an air conditioning repair technician is vital to check your system.
Moisture or Liquid Pooling
Your AC unit should never have pooling liquid or moisture around it. If you witness moisture in your home’s AC system, it might be due to a cracked or loose condensate hose. On the other hand, water pooling presence could indicate a refrigerant leak. While issues with the condensate hose are easy to fix, a refrigerant leak is more severe and can cause major issues in the air conditioner. Lack of adequate refrigerant in the system limits the air conditioner in producing cold air. Therefore, it is prudent to contact an AC repair professional immediately to avoid further issues. Some of the reasons why your air conditioner is leaking water include:
Blocked Drain Line
As the air conditioner cools the warm air from outside, a liquid is formed in the cooling process. This liquid, referred to as the condensate, is drained by the drain line to the condensate pan. However, if the drain line is blocked by algae, dirt, rust, or mold, the liquid stagnates, leading to leakage.
Damaged Condensate Pan
The condensate pan that holds the drain line’s water might be from cracks or rust. The cracks, no matter how small, will drip water thus, which over time accumulates. Although an AC repair technician can replace minor cracks, a badly damaged condensate pan must be replaced.
Low Refrigerant
The liquid refrigerant absorbs the heat, which helps cool the temperature in your house. The liquid refrigerant may occasionally leak, lowering the level left on the air conditioner. Low refrigerant levels drop the pressure in the AC unit, causing the evaporator coil to ice.
Let Us Help If You Are Experiencing AC Problems
Whether you are experiencing restricted air flow or the presence of a foul smell from your AC system, the best way to restore your air conditioner to optimum operation is to contact a professional AC repair technician. This will help you seamlessly get through the hot summers, reduce energy bills, and prolong your HVAC system lifespan. Call us at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth for a reliable air conditioning repair service.