Photo By Serenethos at istock
When it’s warm outside and you’re having a hard time escaping the heat, nothing beats having good air conditioning in your Mansfield, TX, home. The problem is, you also have to do a lot of upkeep if you want to make sure your AC kicks on and blasts cool air whenever you need it. Working with an AC repair specialist to keep up with maintenance is one of the best ways to ensure your AC is always ready to go, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have problems. If your AC isn’t quite running right, here’s what could be causing it.
No Cool Air
As strange as it sounds, a lack of cool air is one of the most common problems when it comes to air conditioning. Even stranger, it’s not the end of the world as far as the lifespan of your AC goes. In fact, a lack of cool air is a problem that most repair experts can fix in a short time without a ton of effort.
The most common cause of warm air coming out of your AC is a lack of airflow caused by a bad air filter. While the air filter does a great job of capturing particles and keeping the air that you breathe clean, it can also impede airflow when it gets dirty. You can prevent this by having your air filter changed regularly based on what your AC repair expert recommends.
There are times when a lack of cool air is caused by something else, such as some other airflow problem or a lack of refrigerant in the unit. Ultimately, it’s always best to have an expert take a look at your AC if something strange is going on.
Lack of Cooling Power
Another problem that a lot of Mansfield, TX, homeowners deal with is a lack of cooling power for the needs of their home. The thing is, there are a lot of factors that affect how efficient your AC is and how well it’s able to cool your home. In some cases, it could be that your AC isn’t quite powerful enough to cool your home and wasn’t the day you bought it. However, sometimes repairs can fix an air conditioner that isn’t providing enough cooling power.
One of the most common problems that leads to a lack of cooling power is an AC that constantly cycles on and off. If your AC is turning off when it shouldn’t be, your home isn’t going to stay very cool. Sometimes this is a matter of a problem with your thermostat while other times it could be a result of low refrigerant.
Whether your AC is improperly sized or needs AC repairs to regain its cooling power, don’t hesitate to fix the problem. An AC that’s not powerful enough to cool your home can cost you a lot of money without delivering the comfort you’re paying for.
Smells
When it comes to spotting an air conditioning problem as soon as possible, keeping your nose open for smells is a good idea. There are a few different odors that can warn you about an AC problem, so it’s important to know what to look out for.
A burning smell from your AC is likely just that; something burning inside the unit. With all the electrical components inside your AC, there are a lot of things that can produce a burning smell. If you notice this smell, call an AC repair expert to figure out what’s getting too hot right away.
A moldy scent coming from your unit means there’s mold and mildew building up somewhere, most commonly in the drain pan or the drain line. You don’t want to breathe mold, so this is an important thing to have fixed as soon as you spot it. A moldy smell could also be caused by a dirty air filter.
If your AC unit smells like exhaust, it could be that you’ve got a refrigerant leak that’s blowing fumes into your home. Exposure to this refrigerant can be harmful, so call an AC repair expert if you think you might have a refrigerant leak.
Noises
Your air conditioner can make a lot of different noises, some of which are entirely normal. If you hear a strange sound coming from your AC or a noise suddenly develops, you should have an AC repair expert take a look at it to make sure everything is alright.
A banging or clunking sound coming from inside the AC is usually due to a broken or loose part. Not only will this broken part affect the efficiency of your AC, it could bang up against other parts and cause further problems.
Buzzing sounds are some of the toughest to diagnose when it comes to your air conditioner. Sometimes a buzzing sound is a result of a dirty filter or condenser coil, and sometimes it’s a loose fan motor or loose fan blades. The only way to know for sure is to have an expert check it out.
Blower motors are a common cause of squealing sounds, so keep your ears open for those. If you hear squealing coming from a vent in a wall or the AC unit itself, call an AC repair specialist to check out your blower motor.
The Simple Solution
Just because you know what you have to do to take care of your AC doesn’t make it easy. However, having maintenance done twice a year is a good start. You should also call an AC repair company whenever you think you may have an AC problem.
When it comes to AC repair it doesn’t get any easier than Minuteman Heating and Air. Not only can we find your problem fast, we’ll get it fixed fast so you stay comfortable. If you’ve got an AC problem you need help fixing, call Minuteman Heating and Air at (817) 284-2569.