In the midst of summer weather, the last thing you want to happen is the thing that often occurs. Call it Murphy's Law or a fluke. But your air conditioner goes on the blink just as a heat wave hits town.
If this has not happened to you yet, you are lucky. During peak summer season, HVAC technicians are often booked sometimes up to a week in advance, often fielding hundreds of calls in one day. However, the unhappy disaster mentioned above might be around the next corner. How does one sidestep this calamity? According to CroppMetcalfe’s five-star air conditioner repair technicians in Warrenton, Virginia, "Preventive maintenance keeps your system running at peak, trouble free efficiency."
Here are 5 signs that your air conditioner is broken or might be soon if it doesn’t get a tune-up.
1. It stops blowing cool air.
An obvious sign of trouble. Your air conditioner stops blowing cool air. Or it alternates from blowing cool air, to not — on and off. Placing your hand on the vent is a good way to tell if your HVAC has this problem. It could be your vents need cleaning, or that your air conditioner's compressor needs repair. The compressor is the part of an air conditioner that pressurizes the refrigerant.
2. It provides insufficient cooling air.
This problem is similar to the first issue mentioned above. You may think your air conditioner is doing fine, but does it take a long time for your room or house to cool down after turning your air conditioner on? Debris could be stuck in the vents, obstructing air flow. But other issues could be at play. The next time you turn your AC on, keep an eye on how long it takes for your house to cool down.
An air conditioner that gets regular maintenance checks can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years. Provided it has been well cared for.
3. It makes odd noises.
Has your air conditioner started to make wild animal sounds? Recent models of air conditioners are known for their quiet running power. So when they do begin to act up and become noticeable due to their sounds, it is time to pay attention. Different sounds may have specific and varied meanings. A banging sound could mean there is a part that is loose or broken. While some clicking noise is just various components turning on and turning off. Continual clicking could be a defective electrical component. Buzzing from the unit placed outside could come from debris stuck inside one of the units, or fan blades rubbing against an obstruction.
4. It will not turn on.
You flip the switch or button... You wait for the customary sounds of the AC doing its thing... But nothing happens. At times, this problem is due to wiring, and not due to problems with the air conditioner itself. Other times, it could be a faulty motor or compressor at play. Not enough refrigerant can also cause your air conditioner to stop working. Call a technician to determine the root of the problem.
5. It will not turn off.
This might not seem like such a problem when you have no immediate plans of turning your air conditioner off. But it is concerning nonetheless. Various problems could be causing your air conditioner to ignore a shut-down prompt. This includes dirty condenser coils. And thermostats that have shorted out or that are defective. If your thermostat is defective, it may be reading temperatures at a higher level, thereby keeping the compressor running.
In all the cases outlined above, call a technician at the first sign of a problem. For those with children or elderly family members, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real concerns. Stay safe this summer by keeping your air conditioner in tip top shape through monitoring your air conditioner. And having an HVAC technician on speed dial.
