DIAGNOSTIC & MAINTENANCE IN HOUSTON

Fact: It’s recommended that you get your air conditioning system serviced at least once a year. And if you follow the recommendation, you’ll keep your AC in tip-top shape — but what happens if you put off a service appointment?

Here are 5 common signs that your central AC is in need of service appointment.

What Are Common Signs That a Central AC Needs Repair?

Hot Air

Hot air coming from your central air conditioner is a telltale sign that something is wrong. If this is happening in your home, here’s what to consider:

• First, check your thermostat. Sometimes, your temperature controlling device was accidentally set on the wrong setting; this is a common mistake and a quick and easy fix.
• If it’s not your thermostat, something could be wrong with your condenser. Check the giant metal hub outside of your home to see if anything might seem off. Inspect all surrounding areas of the condenser to see if there is anything obstructing its coils; this can range from dirt to strange debris. Now, if the coils are blocked by a thin layer of dirt or debris, lightly wash the contaminants off with your garden hose on the lowest setting. However, if it appears that the blockage is on the heavier side, calling a professional AC technician is your best bet.
• Finally, your unit’s refrigerant level might be low. If this is the case, your air conditioner won’t be able to transfer the heat out of your home efficiently, inevitably leading to the hot air coming from your vents.

Strange Noises

Usually, your air conditioning system will make little-to-no noise. If you begin to hear rattling, grinding, or banging sounds (or any variation of these noises), then your problem could be:

• A loose part (i.e., outdoor fan motor)
• Dirty condenser coils
• Refrigerant leaks
• Dirty air filter
• Electrical issues

For problems like these, your first step should be to call a technician and have them diagnose the problem. With so many possibilities, you don’t want to damage your system even more by trying to fix it yourself.

Weird Smells

Just like there are different sounds that your air conditioner could be making — there are different smells as well. If you happen to smell a strange, foul odor here’s what it could mean:

• Musty: this could be due to stagnant water or dirty coils in your unit.
• Rotten egg: If your system smells like rotten eggs, you could have a pest or animal living (or dying) in your air ducts. This could also indicate a gas leak, so it’s best to get this checked out immediately.
• Mildew: excess moisture and humidity could be the culprit here. With air conditioners removing the moisture in your home, there’s likely to be build-up every so often. Additionally, when moisture and humidity come together, mold begins to form.
• Gun powder (or a burning smell): this could be due to your fan motor or circuit board shorting out.

If you smell any of these scents, getting a professional to assess the problem is extremely important. A professional will be able to come to a conclusion quickly to prevent bigger problems from happening down the road.

Higher Than Normal Bills

If your bills are skyrocketing, or are higher than normal, then something is definitely off. Sure, your air conditioner may use a lot of energy, but if your bill is not within the normal range, then your AC system isn’t working efficiently. Quite frankly, if you’re not maintaining your system every year, then that could be a huge factor in this problem. Otherwise, your air filters may need cleaning — or to be replaced.

Airflow

No one wants to have little-to-no airflow coming out of their air conditioning system when a Houston summer rolls around. If this is happening in your home, whether it’s in one room or throughout the house, you’ll want to get this fixed.

If you have no airflow (specifically, in one room), you should first make sure that the vent isn’t closed or blocked by furniture. However, if airflow is a problem throughout your home, you could be experiencing problems with your ductwork (i.e., leaky ducts). Now, if you have leaky ducts, this could be a result of your ductwork having holes or gaps in between its connections. And when this happens, you’re going to lose air pressure as it flows throughout your ducts, leaving almost no airflow left for your home.

On the other hand, your air filter may just be dirty (as mentioned earlier). From hair, dirt, debris, and dander floating throughout your house, these contaminants eventually get stuck within your air filters. Typically, you should check your AC filters every 1-3 months to see if they need to be cleaned or replaced. Now, if you check your air filter and notice this is the problem, you’ll want to replace your unit’s filter right away. But, if changing a filter doesn’t help solve the issue, then it’s time to call in a professional!

Source: airconhouston