Air conditioners are a must in much of the world. It gets far too hot in the summer to stay comfortable indoors. That’s why 90% of all single-family homes in the United States have them.
But what happens if something goes wrong? If you aren’t prepared, you’ll struggle to live comfortably until an AC technician can get to your home to fix the problem.
Knowing the signs to look for when you need emergency AC repair is vital. Below are eight signs that you need to call AC repair services.
1. Warm Air Flow
Your AC should have no problem pushing cold air through your home in most normal situations. The unit cools the air before it goes through your vents and into the rest of your home.
But if your unit isn’t working correctly, air may not get adequately cooled. This problem could be because of blocked airflow or a bad compressor. In either case, working with AC repair services will give you the help you need to resolve the problem.
2. Strange Noises
There’s no getting around noise when it comes to an AC. It’s going to be loud when it’s cooling your home. But as you get used to your AC, you should understand what noises it should make.
You’ll likely notice when it begins making noises that it shouldn’t. These noises can be rattling, hissing, buzzing, or other unknown sounds.
These noises indicate that something in your AC isn’t working right, and you should call a professional to help.
3. Burning Smells
There should be no smells coming from your AC unit. Everything gets isolated in the system and hoses to make sure no odors come from the system.
This makes burning smells a severe concern for AC owners. In many situations, the burning smell occurs because of electrical issues. The electronics aren’t working right, overheating, and causing burning.
Whether the problem is electrical or not, have a professional AC technician investigate the problem. The last thing you want is a fire hazard because of electrical problems.
4. Water Leaks
An AC unit doesn’t work without any byproduct. When it gets humid, condensation forms on the evaporator coil and eventually drips out of the unit.
Normally, your AC will deal with the problem by directing the condensation to a drain pan and out of the condensation line. But if that doesn’t happen, your unit will start leaking.
There are a few reasons this can happen, from a clogged condensation line to a cracked drain pan. An AC professional can diagnose the problem and resolve the issue.
5. Low Refrigerant
Refrigerant is the substance that helps keep your home cool. Air conditioner units have a fixed amount that flows through their systems. If a leak happens and it starts coming out, you will run low on refrigerant and end up with a hotter home.
Refrigerant is a problem you don’t want to handle alone. It’s toxic to humans, so you must properly handle it to stay safe.
Work with an experienced air conditioning technician to refill your unit. They can also look for refrigerant leaks and help you patch whatever hole exists.
In some cases, those leaks can be deep in your AC unit. You may not be able to find them at a glance.
6. Frequent Cycles
Your AC will cycle on and off during the day. It does this when keeping the temperature consistent as it gets hotter outside.
But this process shouldn’t happen that often. Your AC should run for some time and shut off until the temperature gets hot inside again.
If your on-off cycles happen too often, it’s a sign that your system is struggling to keep your home cool. This observation may be nothing, but at the same time, it can point to a sign of a problem with your AC unit. These aren’t easy to diagnose without experience, so working with air conditioning repair services is usually the best choice.
7. Fan Isn’t Running
Your fan takes in the air from inside and brings it outside. Its job is to circulate stale air outdoors to avoid having stale air inside.
But if your fan doesn’t run, that isn’t going to happen. It won’t be able to remove the hot air, so your home will stay warm during the summer.
Fan issues can be simple or complex, so an experienced technician needs to troubleshoot the problem. It can be anything from bad blades or a bad fan motor.
8. Power Bill Increasing
Your AC will make up a large part of the power bill in the summer. It takes a lot of energy to keep your home comfortable. And if your AC struggles to do that job, your bill will rise even more.
Pay attention to your power bill to see if you see any strange increases. Your power company will often let you know how much of your bill is made up from your AC usage.
If you see a dramatic increase, it’s a sign that your AC is struggling to get the job done. Call a professional to troubleshoot your AC to learn why it isn’t working correctly.f
Call Emergency AC Repair for These Problems
Keeping your AC in working order is essential during the summer. You don’t want your home to turn into an oven and make it too uncomfortable to live in.
That’s why knowing how to spot AC problems is essential. You can fix the issue yourself or call an emergency AC repair service to get help from a professional. Keep an eye out for the problems above to know when it’s time to call for help.
Do you want to learn more about taking care of your home? Check out the latest home care advice on the blog.
