Why Isn’t My Air Conditioning Working? | Tips from Your Fort Worth, TX Air Conditioning Service
There’s nothing worse than having a problem with a crucial part of your heating or cooling system when you need it most, but that’s a problem many people have to deal with. Your chances of having a problem with your heating or cooling are especially high if you don’t keep up with regular furnace and air conditioning service. That doesn’t just mean maintaining your HVAC system, it means having it repaired when necessary. If you’re wondering why the AC in your Fort Worth, TX, home isn’t working as well as it should be, we’re here to help you figure it out.
Blowing Warm Air
One of the most common air conditioning service calls we get are due to air conditioners blowing warm air. The whole point of having an AC unit in your home is to provide cool air when it’s hot outside, so an AC that fills your home with warm air is a big problem.
The good news is, blowing warm air isn’t generally a sign of anything catastrophic. As a matter of fact, the most common cause of an AC that blows warm air is a dirty air filter. When your AC doesn’t get enough airflow, it can blow warm air through vents. Since the air filter is responsible for filtering all the air that comes through your AC unit, a dirty air filter causes a serious restriction in airflow.
To avoid this problem, you should have an air conditioning service maintain your AC unit twice each year. The best times to have your AC unit worked on are the fall and spring because of outdoor temperatures, so you should schedule seasonal maintenance around those times every year.
Strange Noises
While it might not have an obvious effect on the temperature in your Fort Worth, TX, home, hearing strange noises from your AC unit is never fun. The most difficult part about noises coming from your AC is that there are so many potential causes, which is why it’s best to have an air conditioning service professional listen to the noise and look for problems.
If you hear a squeaking noise coming from your air conditioner, chances are you have some sort of problem with your belt. In some cases it may be the belt has simply worn down after years of use, but a misaligned belt can also cause a squeaking or squealing noise in your AC unit.
If you hear a clunking noise coming from your AC, it’s likely that something is loose in your AC unit. The biggest issue with this is that it’s impossible to determine exactly what’s causing the noise by the sound alone. If your AC is making a clunking noise, you should have an air conditioning service expert inspect it for loose parts.
Spike in Power Bill
One problem a lot of people encounter with the AC unit in their Fort Worth, TX, home is a sudden spike in energy use. While your power bill should go up and down a bit depending on the season and how much you’re using your heating and cooling, an unexplainable spike in your power bill could be a sign that you need air conditioning service.
Spikes in your power bill can be caused by a wide variety of AC problems, although one of the most common culprits is a dirty air filter. Because a lack of airflow makes your AC unit work so much harder, it has to run longer to keep your home at a reasonable temperature. This very commonly manifests itself in the form of an increase in your power bill.
Another thing to check for if your power bill seems unnecessarily high is the refrigerant in your AC. Air conditioners use refrigerant to create cool air which is then sent to your home, so an AC unit with a refrigerant leak or a lack of refrigerant isn’t going to provide you with the best cooling power. If you do think you might have a refrigerant leak, have a professional air conditioning service look at it as soon as possible.
Dirt and Debris
If you want to make sure your AC unit is in good shape and running efficiently, one of the best things you can do is keep it free of dirt and debris. If you’re not comfortable cleaning your AC unit regularly, you can have it done by an air conditioning service professional during seasonal maintenance.
When the condenser coils on your AC unit start to get dirty, chances are you won’t even know it’s happening. The biggest effect dirty condenser coils have on your AC unit is that they cause increased wear and tear and shorten its lifespan.
Bad Thermostat
While most people think of AC problems as being confined to the AC unit itself, your problem could be a result of a bad thermostat. If you notice your AC is always running or the temperature on your thermostat doesn’t match the feel of your Fort Worth, TX, home, it could be because you’ve got a bad thermostat.
The good news is, replacing a thermostat is simple with the help of an air conditioning service expert. Not only can you have a thermostat installed quickly in the same spot as your previous thermostat, you don’t even have to spend a fortune to get your hands on some of the best models.
An Easy Fix
Once summer rolls around and temperatures start to skyrocket, the last thing you want is a failing AC unit. With regular air conditioning service from a professional, however, you can be confident in your air conditioning.
If you suspect you have a problem with your AC unit, the best thing you can do is call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth, TX, to take a look at it. No matter what your problem is, we can diagnose it and get it fixed in a hurry. Give us a call today at (817) 283-6911.