4 Problems That Require A Call To An Air Conditioning Service | Mansfield, TX
You rely greatly on your air conditioner during the summer. When it gets hot outside, your home will provide an escape from the heat. If your air conditioner isn’t working, your home can easily reach 120 degrees on a 90-degree day, putting your family at risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Some air conditioner issues are easy to detect because the temperature in your house will be affected. However, some problems can be more challenging to detect, and you may not even realize that the issue is due to the air conditioner. Some air conditioning issues can put your home and family at risk, and you’ll need to contact an air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX.
DIY air conditioner repair isn’t recommended. Your air conditioning system is very complex, and without proper training and experience, you can make a mistake, causing further damage. If you don’t fix the unit correctly, it will cost more for a licensed HVAC tech to fix the original problem and the one you caused trying to handle it yourself. Also, due to the high voltage and other safety concerns, you can be seriously injured attempting a DIY repair.
If your air conditioner experiences any of the following problems, it’s best to call an air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX, as soon as the trouble starts.
#1 Faulty Thermostat
The thermostat is your air conditioner’s brain, telling the unit what to do and the temperature you’d like your home to be. If the thermostat isn’t working correctly, the air conditioner won’t either, and you should call an air conditioning service.
A few signs indicate a faulty thermostat, including:
- The panel doesn’t light up, even after you’ve replaced the batteries.
- The thermostat is unresponsive.
- The air conditioner cycles too frequently.
- The indoor temperature doesn’t match the thermostat setting.
An HVAC tech can inspect the thermostat to determine if it can be repaired or if a replacement is best. Thermostat technology has evolved significantly over the years, and there are models available that can help save money on your monthly electric bills.
- Programmable: Programmable thermostats have been around for quite a while, and you can program the thermostat to adjust every day of the week, depending on when you’re home and when you aren’t. To save energy, you can set the thermostat to turn down the air conditioner when you aren’t home. You can also set it to turn up before you return home, so your house will be cool when you get there. There are other options if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of programming the thermostat every week based on your schedule.
- WiFi: WiFi thermostats can be adjusted from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. You can change the thermostat on your Smartphone when everyone has gone for the day and turn it up before your family returns home, and weekly programming isn’t necessary.
- Smart: Smart thermostats work with your smart devices, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home. You can adjust your home’s temperature using the sound of your voice when you’re home, and you can use the smart device’s app on your Smartphone when you aren’t.
An air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX, can send a tech to your home to test the thermostat, and they can provide further information regarding your options. Your air conditioner won’t function correctly without a functioning thermostat, so it’s best to make the call right away.
#2 Restricted Airflow
You should feel a powerful rush of cold air when you stand in front of a vent in your home when the air conditioner runs. If you feel minimal airflow, it’s best to contact an air conditioning service.
Restricted airflow will affect your home’s temperature, and the unit must work harder to reach the desired temperature. The extra work will cause the unit to consume more energy, causing your energy bills to increase. Also, the extra work will strain the unit, reducing its maximum lifespan, so it’s best to have a tech check the system to find the cause.
A few issues can result in restricted airflow, including:
- Clogged air ducts: Dirt, dust, and debris from your home can accumulate in the air ducts. In just one year, up to five pounds of debris can accumulate, clogging the air ducts and restricting the airflow. Clogged air ducts will do more than affect your home’s temperature, and the debris from the ducts will circulate in the air when the air conditioner runs. This will affect your home’s air quality, putting your family at risk for allergy symptoms.
An air conditioning service can send a tech to clean the air ducts, restoring the airflow while improving your home’s air quality. - Damaged air ducts: The air ducts are hidden behind the walls, above the ceiling, or under the floor, depending on the layout of your house. Because the ducts are hidden, you won’t be able to see it, but reduced airflow indicates a crack, leak, or failed sealant. The cold air the unit produces will leak from the damaged area, restricting the airflow. Also, the air outside can leak into the ducts, affecting your home’s temperature.
An HVAC tech can inspect the air ducts for signs of damage, and make the necessary repair, restoring the airflow. - Faulty blower: Your air conditioner has a blower that forces the cold air from the unit, through the ducts, and out to the vents. If the blower isn’t working, the air won’t be forced, resulting in poor airflow.
An air conditioning service can send a tech to repair the blower, restoring adequate airflow.
Restricted airflow can affect your home’s temperature and have expensive consequences; therefore, it’s best to have the problem resolved by a professional as quickly as possible.
#3 You Feel Warm Air Coming From the Vents
If your air conditioner produces warm air, you may need to call an air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX. You should check a few things first to avoid an unnecessary service call.
Start by checking the thermostat setting. The air conditioner won’t get the correct signal if it’s not set correctly. The thermostat must be set to the cooling mode, and it has to be warmer in the house than the thermostat setting. Also, the fan should be set to auto. If it’s in the on position, the fan will keep running between cycles, and you’ll feel warm air coming from the vents. Adjusting the setting should solve the problem if the thermostat isn’t correctly set.
Next, check the air filter. If it’s been a while since it was replaced, the dirt and grime will prevent adequate airflow through the unit, causing it to overheat and produce warm air. If the filter is dirty, replacing it should solve the problem.
If everything checks out on your end, it’s time to call an air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX. A few issues can prevent the unit from producing cold air, including:
- Refrigerant leak: Your AC relies on refrigerant to produce cold air, and acid corrosion can cause the refrigerant to leak. If your unit was installed after 2010, an air conditioning service can send a tech to fix the leak and refill the refrigerant to get the system up and running again. However, if the unit was installed before 2010, it cannot be fixed, and the air conditioning service will send a tech to replace it.
Units produced before 2010 use R-22 refrigerant, which has been banned in the United States because it’s toxic and depletes the ozone layer. The tech won’t waste time trying to fix the leak because they won’t have access to R-22 to refill the unit, and you’ll need to have a newer model installed. - Frozen evaporator coils: The evaporator coils extract the heat and humidity from the air to begin the cooling process. If the coils are frozen, they can’t do their job, and the unit won’t produce cold air. A few issues can cause the coils to freeze, including:
- Lack of airflow in the unit
- Dirty air filter
- Dirty evaporator coils
- Refrigerant leak
- You ran the air conditioner when it was too cold outside.
- An air conditioning service can send a tech to thaw the coils to begin the cooling process. They will also figure out why the coils froze so you can keep it from happening again.
- Broken compressor: The indoor unit and the outdoor compressor work together to keep your home cool. If no power goes to the compressor or it isn’t working correctly, the air conditioner won’t produce cold air. An air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX, can send a tech to your home to inspect the compressor and resolve the problem, allowing the unit to produce cold air.
#4 Foul Odors
A properly running air conditioner shouldn’t emit a smell when it runs. If you smell something foul when the unit runs, call a licensed HVAC professional immediately. The odor the unit produces can help the tech determine the cause.
- Burning: A burning smell indicates a wiring issue, and the wire insulation burning causes the odor. This is a serious problem because the wiring can start an electrical fire that can destroy your home in minutes. It’s best to turn off the air conditioner as soon as you detect the smell and call an air conditioning service. An air conditioning service can send a tech to inspect the wiring and replace the faulty wire before a disaster occurs.
- Mold: A mildew or moldy smell when the unit runs indicates the presence of mold. Your air ducts are hidden and dark, and when it gets humid in the house, condensation will accumulate in the ducts, creating a hospitable environment for mold growth. The smell is the least of your problems if there’s mold in the ducts. When the air conditioner runs, mold spores will circulate in the air, putting your family’s health at significant risk, and you should call an air conditioning service as soon as possible.
According to the CDC, mold exposure causes all kinds of health issues, including:- Allergy symptoms
- Chronic headaches
- Skin rashes
- Burning of the eyes, nose, and throat
- Respiratory issues
- Weakened immune system
- Worsening of chronic lung and respiratory conditions
- An air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX, can send a tech to inspect the ducts for mold, which they can easily eradicate using an antimicrobial fogger. If the tech cannot find mold in the ducts, it could be in the air conditioner, which can be more challenging to eradicate. If they cannot eliminate every single mold spore, you’ll need to replace the unit to keep your family healthy. The tech can also install a UV lamp in the unit to prevent future mold growth.
Call Minuteman Heating & Air Today
If your AC isn’t working right and you need help from an air conditioning service, look no further than Minuteman Heating & Air. We’re a full-service HVAC company, providing service to customers in the area for years.
Our HVAC techs are professionally trained and highly skilled and can handle any HVAC job, regardless of the complexity. HVAC technology is constantly evolving, and our certified techs must receive ongoing training. There are always newer, better models being produced, and we want our tech to be able to install, maintain and repair the latest HVAC models.
We understand that HVAC issues can occur at the most inconvenient times, so we provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you have an HVAC problem that must be addressed immediately, we’ll get a tech to your home as quickly as possible to get the system up and running again.
We’ve earned an excellent reputation in the community over the years and have a 5-star rating on Google and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We can also be found on Home Advisor, and we’ve been a Screened and Approved business on the platform for over five years.
To schedule an appointment for air conditioning service or any other HVAC service we provide, give Minuteman Heating & Air a call today.