5 Signs You Need Air Conditioning Service | Mansfield, TX
Owning a home can feel like managing a small business with how many different areas of home repair you have to address constantly. It is not enough to just take care of your home and keep it clean, you also have to be aware of how every system within your home is functioning, including your heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, and roofing. It can start to feel overwhelming, which is why it can be easy to overlook the need for air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX. However, failure to take proper action can lead to a very hot summer, which is why it is important to keep track of the overall condition of your HVAC system.
The very first place to start is with your own gut intuition. Most people know more about their home AC system than they think. You probably already know whether you worry about your AC system during the summer months or not, and that is a valuable feeling to follow. Are you worried that your AC system is going to fall apart in the coming summer months? If you are, this is a sign that you need to book an air conditioning service now. An AC service is the best way to get to the bottom of issues, and if you are already concerned, there are probably reasons why.
Most people don’t randomly worry about home appliances. If you are worried about the age or condition of your air conditioning service, then there is likely a strong reason why. Perhaps you have had troubles in the past, or maybe your system is simply aging, and you are not sure how many years you have left in it. A system that has required a lot of repairs throughout the summer months should be proactively checked before the summer comes back around so that you can stay ahead of issues. The winter and spring months are a great time to book an air conditioning service because you aren’t dependent on your AC yet.
The simple truth of the matter is that anyone who lives in Texas cannot wait for summer to find out if their AC is ready to go or not because life in Texas is dangerous without an AC system. With the high temperatures that can spike in Mansfield, TX, you need to be extremely protective about air conditioning service to ensure that your family and home are protected from high temperatures. The good news is that this is not always an impossible feat. It is simply one that requires you to take a harder look at your AC and to plan just a little bit in advance. As we mentioned, you probably already have a good idea of whether something is wrong or not, but an air conditioning service certainly will give you useful information so that you can plan accordingly.
For instance, as part of a standard air conditioning service visit, all of the dirt and debris that may be hiding inside both your indoor and outdoor units will be removed. While this may not be your priority, it is certainly helpful in improving the air quality in your home. You might be shocked at how much dirt the HVAC technician finds when they come out of the service. If you happen to be standing around, ask them to show you because once you see how much dirt and debris they remove, you will become super vigilant about making sure you book an annual AC repair service around the clock.
Not only will removing the dirt and debris help improve the air quality within your home, but it will also help to reduce your utility bills in most cases. Dirt and debris can clog your system and make it harder to push air through. This leads to increased wear and tear and increased energy usage, but when you remove all of that gunk, air can easily flow throughout your system, which will be reflected in the reduced amount of energy that is required to keep the system working smoothly.
You also might talk to the HVAC technician about the overall condition of your AC system as well during your air conditioning service. While no one can see into the future, they can tell you how things look inside your AC system and make an educated guess about how long your system may last. This allows you to prepare for the future and think about budgeting for an eventual replacement. It is always better to have a few years or even a few months to plan for a replacement versus getting hit with the high replacement costs upfront without any warning.
Of course, the other timely benefit of regular air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX is that it is a great time to find out about any items that need to be repaired. There could be broken or rusted parts inside of your AC that have gone undetected since your AC was still functioning last year that are due for replacement. Instead of waiting until your AC system breaks down, you can get ahead of the process and have them repaired by the HVAC company at your own pace. When you book an AC service now, you find out about any rusted pieces almost three to four months before you have to worry about flipping your AC on. This gives you a large timespan to plan for, and complete repairs before your home is baking.
Now that you know all of the benefits of an annual air conditioning service, it is time to review times when you need to get immediate air conditioning service. There are very few Mansfield, TX HVAC technicians who will recommend the wait-and-see approach because it is highly dangerous and hardly ever works out for your customers. With that in mind, here are a few signs to always be on the lookout for. If you remember noting any of these signs last year while your AC was on, it is probably a good idea to go ahead and call for a service now.
Reduced Airflow
If your air-conditioning system is not working efficiently within your home, you will probably notice because of reduced or insufficient airflow near your air vents. If you noticed the main vents in your home are not releasing as much as they used to, this is probably a sign that you have an issue within your system preventing it from working at its full Capacity. Sometimes this can be due to a clogged air filter or a broken compressor. Other times it may be your air duct that has the problem, in which case you can call an air conditioning service and have them come out to do a duct cleaning service for your home. As a side benefit, clean air ducts will ensure that everybody breathes better within your home.
If the problem is bigger than just one block air duct or a clogged air filter you may have to look at installing something like an energy recovery ventilator. This system can help boost your AC efficiency so that you get fresh air every time that cycles other potential add-ons include a zoning system that you can help address where air may not be flowing as easily as in other areas in your home. Until you call an air conditioning system and I have them take a look, you will never know what’s really going on in your air ducts.
Room Temperature Air
Another immediate problem that you may notice is if your air conditioning system is blowing out room temperature air. Air temperature air will not cool down your home and in fact will probably lead to another immediate problem that you may notice if your air conditioning system is blowing out room temperature air. Air temperature air will not cool down your home and, in fact, will probably lead to it heating up when you consider how hot the Mansfield, TX summers are. With that in mind, you need to immediately take action if you notice that the air is not cooling correctly.
Sometimes this indicates that you may need to replace an air filter or address problems with your compressor. Other times this may mean that your system is leaking refrigerant or has run out of it. Since refrigerant is highly dangerous and carefully regulated by the government, you will need to call an air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX for help. There are dozens of reasons why you might end up with room-temperature air, but all of them can be figured out with the help of an air conditioning service.
Humidity in Your Home
Another sign that your air-conditioning unit may not be working the way that it should be is if you notice that they’re high humidity levels in your home. Well not everyone may have a humidity indicator in their home, you can usually figure it out if you feel hot and sticky inside your home the same way you do when you are outside. That feeling comes from heavy moisture in the air, which should not be happening if your AC is working at its full capacity therefore, it is a clear sign that you need to call an air conditioning service.
Sometimes a simple tuneup is all that it takes to get your AC working fully so that the humidity in your air goes back down to an acceptable rate. However, in other cases, you might have to talk with your HVAC technician about installing a whole house dehumidifier. This is a topic you can bring up during your air conditioning service.
Leaks Near Your AC Unit
What emergency line that you need to call for air conditioning service is if you notice a leak near your AC system. There is absolutely no good reason why there should be a leak near your AC unit unless it happens to be coming from your water heater. In which case, then, you’re going to need help from a plumber. An AC unit should not give out any type of moisture, whether it is ice or rather it is water. Therefore if you notice a leak, this is a very good sign that you are probably losing refrigerant. Refrigerant is a highly toxic substance, so you do not want to take this matter lightly. Additionally, without refrigerant and your AC will be able to properly cool your home. Make sure you secure all small children and pets so that they cannot consume the refrigerant, and then immediately call for an air conditioning service to repair the leak and get cool air restored to your home.
Odd Odors
Finally, any odd odors in your home can indicate a potential problem with your AC if they come out of your air vents. Most people fail to realize that the duct work within your home is part of your air conditioning system. Therefore if you notice musty smells, You need to call for an air conditioning service that can then clean out your vents and remove any mold or mildew that might be responsible for the odors. Other owners that you should be on the lookout for include anything that smells like electrical burning or gas because both of these indicate a potential emergency situation to be addressed by a professional right away in your Mansfield, TX home.
If you are worried about the overall condition of your AC unit, call Minuteman Heating & Air, and we can come out to your home for a service visit. We offer comprehensive HVAC service designed to accommodate the needs of all our clients.