When it gets hot outside, you need air-conditioning to keep it cool and comfortable inside. It’s common for the temperature to reach 90 degrees or higher on a summer day in Texas, and the temperature in your house can reach 120 degrees if your air conditioner needs to be fixed.
Detecting issues early is the best way to keep your home cool during the summer, and you should call an air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX if your unit experiences any of the following issues.
#1 The Unit Fails to Produce Cool Air
The most obvious sign it’s time to call an air conditioning service is when the unit fails to produce cold air. You should feel an intense rush of cold air from the vents, and warm air indicates there’s a problem with the unit. A few possible issues can prevent the unit from producing cold air, and you’ll need a licensed HVAC tech to determine the exact cause so they can resolve the problem.
You should check a few things before making the call to avoid an unnecessary service call, and you should start with the thermostat. The AC won’t produce cold air if it isn’t set correctly, and it must be set to the cooling mode, and it has to be warmer in the house than the thermostat setting. In addition, the fan must be set to AUTO. If the fan is set to ON, it will continue running when the air conditioner cycles, and you’ll feel warm air coming from the vents. Next, check the air filter. If it’s covered in dirt and grime, it can reduce the airflow in the unit, causing it to overheat. A dirty filter can also cause the evaporator coils to freeze, and we’ll get into that shortly.
If the filter is clean and the thermostat is set correctly, it’s time to call an air conditioning service to determine why the unit isn’t producing cold air.
- The compressor isn’t wording: The indoor unit and outdoor compressor work together to produce cold air, and one cannot work without the other. An issue with the outdoor compressor can prevent the unit from producing cold air. A few problems can prevent the compressor from doing its job, such as blocked suction lines, overheating, and a lack of power going to the unit.
- An air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX will send a tech to inspect the compressor and determine what needs to be done to get it up and running again.
- Refrigerant leak: Your air conditioner needs sufficient refrigerant to produce cold air, and a leak could be why your AC isn’t producing cold air.
- Formic acid can eat away at the metal over time, creating tiny holes that allow the refrigerant to leak. If you see bright green or yellow fluid on the floor, there’s a good chance you have a refrigerant leak. An air conditioning service will send a tech to confirm there’s a leak, and some can be fixed, but others can’t.
- If your AC was installed after 2010, an HVAC tech can fix the leak and refill the refrigerant. However, if it was installed before 2010, a replacement is the only option. Older units require R-22 refrigerant, which is toxic and harmful to the ozone layer, causing the US government to ban R-22 on January 1, 2020. The HVAC tech will have no problem fixing the leak, but they won’t have R-22 to refill the unit, so the air conditioner must be replaced.
- The evaporator coils froze: The evaporator coils play a crucial role in keeping your house cool. The coils extract the heat and humidity from the air to begin the cooling process, and they cannot do their job if they’ve frozen. The most common cause is insufficient airflow, caused by a dirty or clogged air filter, a clog in the condensate drain, low fan speed, or the evaporator coils are dirty.
- An air conditioning service will send a tech to thaw the coils and determine why they froze up in the first place to prevent it from happening again.
Your home will get dangerously hot during the summer if your AC fails to produce cold air, and it’s best to call an air conditioning service immediately.
#2 Insufficient Airflow
Your home won’t stay cool and comfortable if you don’t feel an intense rush of cold air from the vents in your house. A warm house isn’t the only issue caused by poor airflow, and the problem can increase your energy bills and shorten the unit’s lifespan, and it’s best to call an air conditioning service immediately.
Reduced airflow will cause the unit to work harder to keep the house cool and draw more energy, causing your electric bills to increase. In addition, the extra work will strain the unit, reducing its maximum lifespan.
A few issues can restrict the airflow from the vents, and you’ll need to call an air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX to determine the cause and resolve it before the issue costs you more money.
- Clogged air ducts: The air ducts deliver the cool air from the unit to the vents. The dirt, dust, and debris in your house will get into the air ducts and accumulate over time. Up to five pounds of debris can accumulate in the ducts in one year and will clog the ducts, preventing sufficient airflow.
- An air conditioning service will send a tech to inspect the ducts to confirm there’s a clog and clean the debris to restore sufficient airflow.
- Broken blower: The blower is designed to force the cold air from the unit to the vents. If it isn’t working correctly, the cold air will remain stagnant in the ducts, resulting in minimal airflow.
- An air conditioning service will send a tech to determine if the blower can be fixed or if a replacement is necessary. The airflow will be restored when the blower is up and running again.
- Damaged air ducts: The air ducts are hidden so you won’t see visible damage, and the most common sign of duct damage is insufficient airflow. If there’s a crack in the ducts or the seal fails, the cold air will escape through the damaged area before reaching the vents, resulting in poor airflow.
- An air conditioning service will send a tech to inspect the ducts for damage and make the necessary repair to restore the airflow.
It’s best to call an air conditioning service immediately to ensure your house stays cool and you won’t have to spend more money on high energy bills.
#3 The Unit Fails to Dehumidify Your House
Humidity will make your home feel warmer than it is, making you feel sticky and uncomfortable. Your air conditioner is designed to eliminate humidity, and the evaporator coils extract the heat and humidity to begin the cooling process. If your AC isn’t dehumidifying the house, it’s best to call an air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX to determine the cause so they can fix it.
A few issues can prevent the unit from eliminating the humidity, including:
- The unit cycles too frequently due to a faulty thermostat, and the unit won’t have time to eliminate the humidity between cycles.
- The thermostat fan is set to ON rather than AUTO.
- Refrigerant leak
- Leaky ductwork allows the humidity outside to leak into the ducts and vents in your home.
- The air conditioner is too large for your home and will cycle too frequently to eliminate the humidity.
You’ll need a licensed HVAC tech to determine why the unit isn’t removing the humidity and make the necessary repair.
#4 You Smell Something Burning
Do you smell something burning only when the air conditioner runs? If so, there’s likely a wiring issue, and the odor is due to the wire insulation burning. This is a fire hazard because the problem can start an electrical fire that could destroy your house in minutes, so it’s best to turn off the AC immediately and call an air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX. They’ll send a tech to your house to inspect the wiring, find the faulty ones, and replace them before a disaster starts.
It’s best to make the call immediately so you can run the AC without worrying.
#5 Your Home Smells Moldy or Musty
Is there a moldy or musty smell in your house only when the AC runs? If so, running the unit is a health hazard, and it’s best to turn it off and call an air conditioning service. The odor is due to mold in the ducts or the unit, which can make your family sick. The mold spores will circulate in the air when the unit runs, putting your family at risk for mold-related health issues, including;
- Allergy symptoms
- Chronic headaches
- Burning eyes
- Skin rashes
- Respiratory issues
- Weakened immune system
If a family member has a chronic lung or respiratory condition, mold exposure will worsen the symptoms and condition.
The most common location for mold is the air ducts. They are dark and when it gets humid in the house, condensation will form in the ducts, creating the perfect environment for mold growth.
An air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX will send a tech to inspect your ducts for mold, which can be eradicated using an antimicrobial fogger.
If the ducts are clear, the mold is likely in the air conditioner, possibly due to a clogged drain line or failure to maintain the unit. Unfortunately, mold in the unit is more challenging to eliminate than mold in the ducts. If the tech can eliminate every mold spore, you should consider installing a UV lamp in the unit to prevent mold and bacteria growth.
If they cannot remove all of the mold, the unit must be replaced to ensure your family stays healthy.
#6 Strange Sounds
Your air conditioner is designed to run quietly to prevent distractions in the house. You’ll hear a faint clicking when the unit cycles, and any other sounds require a call to an air conditioning service in Mansfield, TX.
The sound the unit makes can help the tech pinpoint the issue, making it easier to repair.
- Banging: This indicates a faulty compressor or loose and broken parts, which can cause further damage if the problem isn’t addressed quickly.
- Screeching: This sound indicates a broken condenser fan motor or the blower motor inside the house is broken.
- Humming: This sound indicates a defective contactor relay switch and is an electrical problem, and it’s best to avoid using the AC until the issue is resolved.
- Buzzing: This sound indicates loose or unbalanced fan blades in the compressor or an obstruction near the copper lines connected to the air conditioner.
It’s best to have the unit checked by a professional when you hear a strange sound to prevent further issues.
Call Minuteman Heating & Air Today
If your air conditioner isn’t working correctly and you need to call an air conditioning service, look no further than Minuteman Heating & Air. We’re a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area for years.
Our techs are professionally trained, and their knowledge and skill have allowed them to tackle some of the most challenging jobs in the industry.
We understand that our customers lead busy lives, so we offer evening and weekend appointments to accommodate busy schedules. We also provide emergency service, and if you have a problem that must be addressed immediately, we’ll get a tech to your house as quickly as possible to resolve the issue.
We’ve earned an excellent reputation over the years and are an Accredited Business with the Better Business Bureau, and we have a 5-star rating on Google. You can also find us on Home Advisor, and we’ve been a Screened & Approved business on the platform for over five years.
If you need to schedule an appointment to fix your air conditioner, give us a call at Minuteman Heating & Air or book online.
See our previous blog post here!