6 Signs You Should Call An Air Conditioning Service | Arlington, TX
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There are two types of people in this world. The ones who love the summer heat and the ones who hate it. During the summer, the temperature in Arlington, TX, can reach 96 degrees. When it is this hot, even people who love the summer heat can’t stand it.
Many people spend a lot of time in their air-conditioned homes to escape the heat. The last thing you want is for your air conditioner to break down during the hottest time of the year. If this happens, you can no longer escape the heat inside your home.
If you are going to prevent a complete air conditioner breakdown this summer, you need to identify issues early so that the necessary repair can be made. If you cannot detect problems early, a minor problem can quickly escalate to a major one, which will require an expensive repair.
If your air conditioner is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, you should call an air conditioning service as soon as possible.
#1 Poor Airflow
When you stand in front of the vents when the air conditioner in your home is running, you should feel a constant rush of cold air. If there is minimal airflow, you should call an air conditioning service.
Poor airflow from the vents can make it difficult for your home to reach the desired temperature. Your air conditioner will need to work harder to keep your home cool, which can cause a significant increase in your energy bills. The extra work will put added strain on your system, reducing its maximum lifespan.
There are a few issues that can cause reduced airflow, and you will need a licensed HVAC tech to determine what is causing the problem.
- Clogged air ducts: Over the course of a year, up to five pounds of dust, dirt, and other debris can build up in the air ducts. Regardless of how clean you keep your home, debris buildup is inevitable. When too much debris has built up in the ducts, it can obstruct the airflow from the vents.
Clogged air ducts can also affect the air quality in your home. When your air conditioner is running, the debris will circulate through the air, which can cause your family to develop allergy symptoms. If the air ducts are clogged, an HVAC tech can remove the debris, increasing the airflow and keeping your family healthy.
- Damaged air ducts: The air ducts in your Arlington, TX home are designed to carry the cool air from the air conditioner to the vents located around your home. If there is a crack in the ducts or they are damaged in any way, the cold air will escape before it reaches the vents, resulting in reduced airflow.
When you schedule an appointment for air conditioning service, the tech will inspect the air ducts and repair any damage.
- Faulty blower: Your air conditioner’s blower is designed to force the cold air from the system through the air ducts and to the vents. If the blower isn’t working correctly, the cold air won’t reach the vents the way it should, resulting in inadequate airflow. An air conditioning service will send a tech to your Arlington, TX home to repair or replace the blower, ensuring adequate airflow.
When you schedule an appointment for air conditioning service, the HVAC tech will inspect your air ducts and your air conditioner to find the source of the problem and take the necessary steps to resolve the issue.
#2 Warm Air
When your air conditioner is functioning correctly, you should feel cold air coming from the vents. If the air is warm, you may need to schedule an appointment for air conditioning service.
Before you make the call, you should check the setting on your thermostat. User error is a common cause of this problem, and you don’t want to waste your money on a service call you don’t need.
First, the system needs to be set to the cooling mode. If it’s not, your system won’t produce cold air. Next, compare the temperature in the home with the setting on the thermostat. The temperature inside needs to be warmer than the setting on the thermostat for the system to produce cold air.
If your thermostat is correctly set, it is time to call an air conditioning service. There are several issues that can prevent your air conditioner from producing cold air, and you will need an HVAC professional to determine the cause.
- Dirty air filter: A dirty air filter will prevent the air conditioner from moving cold air through the system. This can put excess strain on your system, causing it to produce warm air.
- Frozen evaporator coils: The evaporator coils play an important part in cooling your home. The coils extract the warm air from inside the house to begin the cooling process. When moisture collects on the evaporator coils, they can freeze and cannot do their job.
- Low refrigerant: The air conditioner in your home needs a certain amount of refrigerant to produce cold air. If your refrigerant level is low, your system can’t produce cold air.
- Refrigerant leak: If your system is leaking refrigerant, the level will drop dramatically, making it impossible for your system to produce cold air.
- Lack of power to the outdoor unit: If the power to the outdoor unit is disrupted, the inside unit cannot produce cold air.
Trying to troubleshoot the problem yourself is a bad idea. It is best to call an air conditioning service so an HVAC professional can properly diagnose the problem and make the necessary repair. The sooner you make the call, the sooner your home will be cool and comfortable again.
#3 Foul Smells When Your System Is Running
When the air conditioner in your Arlington, TX home is functioning correctly, it should produce odorless, cold air. If you smell something strange when your AC is running, you should schedule an appointment for air conditioning service. The odor produced can help the HVC tech determine the cause.
- Mold: If your home smells like mold when your air conditioner is running, there could be mold in the air ducts. The ducts are the perfect breeding ground for mold because they are dark, and the humidity can make them damp.
Mold in the air ducts can be very hazardous to your health. Breathing in mold can cause allergy symptoms. It can also cause more serious problems such as respiratory issues and a weakened immune system. When you call an air conditioning service, they will send a tech to your Arlington, TX home to examine the air ducts for the presence of mold. If they find any, it can be eradicated using an antimicrobial fogger.
If the ducts are mold-free, there could be mold in the air conditioner, which is more serious. If the tech cannot remove the mold from the system, you will need to have it replaced.
- Burning: If you smell something burning when your air conditioner is running, you should turn it off immediately and call an air conditioner service. The burning smell often signifies an electrical issue, which can cause an electrical fire, putting your home and family at risk.
The best way to protect your home and family is to schedule an appointment for air conditioning service as soon as you smell the foul odor.
#4 Thermostat Issues
The thermostat in your Arlington, TX home is your air conditioner’s brain. If the thermostat isn’t working correctly, your air conditioner won’t function properly either.
The thermostat tells your system when to produce cold air, and it tells the system how cool you want your home to be.
There are a few ways to tell if your thermostat is faulty.
- You changed the batteries, and the thermostat is still unresponsive.
- Your system kicks off on its own.
- Your air conditioner cycles constantly.
- The setting on the thermostat doesn’t match the temperature in your home.
When you schedule an appointment for air conditioning service, an HVAC tech will check the thermostat to determine if it can be repaired or needs to be replaced.
If you have an older thermostat, replacing it might be the better option. Thermostat technology has evolved over the last decade, and you can install a thermostat that can help you save money on your energy bills.
- Programmable thermostats: This thermostat is popular because you can program the thermostat to increase and decrease the temperature based on when you are home and when you aren’t. If your air conditioner isn’t running on full blast all day while you are at work, you can save money. You also won’t need to worry about coming home to a hot house because you can program the thermostat to change the temperature before you get home.
- Wi-Fi thermostats: Wi-Fi thermostats are very popular and are a great option if you don’t want to deal with programming the thermostat. You can control your thermostat using your phone or tablet from anywhere as long as there is an internet connection. This will allow you to change the thermostat settings anytime you like.
- Smart thermostat: This is the newest type of thermostat. Smart thermostats work with your smart devices, such as Google Home or Amazon Alexia. When you are home, you can control the thermostat with the sound of your voice. When you are away, you can use the smart device’s app to control the thermostat.
An air conditioning service can send a tech to your home to test your existing thermostat. If it needs to be replaced, the tech can discuss the pros and cons of each option. This information will help you make a well-informed choice.
#5 Moisture Or Fluid Pooling Around the Unit
The area around the air conditioner in your Arlington, TX home should always be dry. If there is moisture or fluid pooling around the unit, you should schedule an emergency air conditioning service appointment.
There could be a broken or clogged condensate hose, which is an easy fix. Ignoring the issue can result in water damage or mold growth.
Your system could also be leaking refrigerant, which is a serious problem. Refrigerant is harmful to humans, and without refrigerant, your system won’t produce cold air.
If your air conditioner is less than ten years old, an air conditioning service can send a tech to your home to fix the leak and refill the refrigerant. If your system is over ten years old, you could have a serious problem on your hands. Old systems use R-22 refrigerant, which is toxic and harmful to the environment. On January 1, 2020, the U.S. government banned the production of R-22. If your system is leaking refrigerant, the tech cannot refill the system with R-22 because it is no longer being produced. In this case, the only solution to the problem is to replace your existing air conditioner
#6 Strange Sounds
You should only hear a faint clicking sound when your air conditioner is running. If the system is making strange sounds, you should schedule an appointment for air conditioning service. Banging, rattling, hissing, and vibrating sounds signify a loose or broken part or another issue that can cause extensive damage if left ignored.
If you hear a high-pitched screaming sound, you should turn your system off immediately and schedule an appointment for an emergency air conditioning service. This sound signifies high pressure in the system that can be catastrophic if you allow the air conditioner to continue running.
Why Choose Minuteman Heating & Air?
If your air conditioner isn’t working correctly and you want to work with the best air conditioning service around, contact Minuteman Heating & Air. We have been in the HVAC business for many years and have an excellent reputation. We are an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau and have a 5-star rating on Google.
Our techs are highly trained and NATE certified and can handle any HVAC job you have. We take pride in our work and guarantee your satisfaction.
To schedule an appointment for air conditioning service or any other HVAC service, give us a call today.