Photo By RossHelen at istock

When the temperature heats up in Arlington, TX, your air conditioner becomes your most essential appliance. Many people spend more time indoors during the summer to escape the heat. If your air conditioner isn’t working correctly, it can affect your home’s temperature, and you won’t have a place to go to escape the heat, and you should call an air conditioning service right away.

DIY air conditioning repairs aren’t recommended. It takes professional training and extensive HVAC knowledge to diagnose and repair an air conditioner correctly. Without the necessary knowledge and skill, you could end up doing more damage to the unit, which comes with a more expensive repair bill.

If your air conditioner is experiencing any of the following issues, it is best to call an air conditioning service.

#1 Thermostat Issues

The thermostat in your home sends signals to your air conditioner, letting it know when to turn on or off and how warm or cool you want your home to be. If your thermostat isn’t functioning correctly, your air conditioner won’t either.

There are a few signs that your thermostat isn’t functioning correctly, including:

• The thermostat isn’t lighting up, even after changing the batteries.
• The air conditioner isn’t receiving your commands when you adjust the thermostat.
• Frequent cycling
• The air conditioner turns on and off frequently.
• The temperature in the house doesn’t match the setting on the thermostat.

If you suspect your thermostat isn’t working correctly, an air conditioning service can help. An HVAC tech can test the thermostat and determine if it can be repaired or replaced.

If it is time to replace your thermostat, you have options that can help save money on your energy bills. For a while, programmable thermostats were the only money-saving option. You can program this thermostat to adjust the temperature based on when you’re home and when you aren’t. Thermostat technology has evolved over the last few years, and there are more money-saving options available.

• Smart thermostats: Smart thermostats work with Google Home and Amazon Alexa smart devices. When you are home, you can control the thermostat with the sound of your voice. You can also control the thermostat when you aren’t home using the smart device’s app on your cell phone. When you can adjust the thermostat so easily, and when you aren’t home, you can save money on your energy bills.

• Wi-Fi thermostats: Wi-Fi thermostats can be controlled using your cell phone from anywhere in the world as long as there’s an internet connection. When you can adjust the thermostat anytime you like, you can save money on your energy bills.

When you call an air conditioning service, they will send a tech to your home to discuss the pros and cons of each option, allowing you to make an informed decision.

#2 The Air Conditioner Produces Warm Air

The air conditioner in your Arlington, TX home is designed to produce cold air to keep your home cool and comfortable. If the unit produces warm air, you may need to call an air conditioning service.

This issue is common if the thermostat isn’t set correctly; therefore, you should check the thermostat before calling a professional.

First, make sure the thermostat is set to the cooling mode. Next, check the fan setting. If the fan is set to “on,” it will continue running between cycles, and you will feel warm air from the vents, and the fan should be set to “auto.” Finally, check the temperature setting. If it isn’t warmer in the house than the temperature setting, the unit won’t produce cold air.

If your thermostat is set correctly, it’s time to schedule an appointment for air conditioning service. A few issues can cause your air conditioner to produce warm air, and you will need a professional to find the cause.

• Dirty or clogged air filter: HVAC professionals recommend changing the air filter in your air conditioner every 90 days. If you have allergies or pets, you should change the filter every 45 days.
  If you neglect to change the filter and it is dirty or clogged, air won’t move the system the way it should, putting added strain on the unit causing it to produce warm air.

• Frozen evaporator coils: The evaporator coils play an essential part in keeping your home cool and comfortable. The coils extract the heat from your home to begin the cooling process, creating condensation. The condensation can cause the evaporator coils to freeze, and they cannot do their job.

• Refrigerant leak: Your air conditioner needs refrigerant to produce cold air. If the refrigerant is leaking, there won’t be enough left in the unit to produce cold air. In addition, little to no refrigerant in the unit can cause further damage; therefore, it is best to call an air conditioning service right away.

• The outdoor unit has no power: The indoor and outdoor air conditioning units work together to keep your home cool. If the outdoor unit has no power, the indoor unit can’t produce cold air.

It is best to schedule an appointment for air conditioning service as soon as you discover the problem. The longer you wait to make the call, the longer it will be until your home is cool and comfortable again.

#3 Poor Airflow

When you stand in front of a vent in your Arlington, TX home and your air conditioner is on, you should feel a powerful rush of cold air. If you feel very little cold air, you should schedule an appointment for air conditioning service.

Poor airflow will make it difficult for your air conditioner to keep your home cool, and it will need to work harder to reach the desired temperature. The extra work will cause a significant increase in your energy bills. Also, when your air conditioner works harder, it puts added strain on the unit, decreasing the unit’s lifespan, and you will need to replace it sooner than necessary. Because poor airflow can be costly, it is best to call an air conditioning service right away.

A few issues can restrict the airflow, and you will need an HVAC tech to determine the cause.

• Clogged air ducts: No matter how often you clean your house, dirt, dust, and debris can build up in the ducts. In just one year, up to five pounds of debris can accumulate, restricting the airflow. Clogged ducts can also affect your home’s air quality because the debris will circulate in the air when the AC is on. An HVAC tech can clean the ducts, saving your money and ensuring the air quality in your home is safe.

• Broken blower: The blower helps force the cold air from the air conditioner to the vents throughout your home. If the blower isn’t working correctly or at all, the air won’t be forced to the vents, and your home won’t be cool and comfortable. A professional in air conditioning service can repair or replace the blower, allowing adequate airflow.

• Damaged air ducts: The air ducts in your Arlington, TX home are hidden behind walls, under the floors, and above the ceilings; therefore, if the ducts are damaged, you won’t be able to tell. The only way you will know is if the force of air from the vents is weak. The cold air will escape from the damaged area before reaching the vents, resulting in poor airflow. A professional in air conditioning service can repair the ducts, preventing the air from escaping.

An air conditioner service can send a tech to your home to diagnose and repair the problem, and your home will be cool and comfortable again.

#4 Strange Smells

The air conditioner in your Arlington, TX home should produce clean, odorless air. If you smell something strange when the air conditioner is on, you should schedule an appointment for air conditioning service right away. The smell indicates an issue with the AC that can put your home and family at risk.

• Mold: A moldy smell often indicates mold growth in the air ducts. The ducts are dark, and when your home is humid, moisture can form in the ducts, and since light doesn’t shine into the ducts, the moisture will remain, causing mold to grow.
  Mold in the air ducts is a serious problem because it can make your family sick. When the air conditioner is on, mold spores will circulate in the air your family breathes, which can make them sick. According to healthcare professionals, breathing in mold can cause allergy symptoms, trouble breathing, skin rashes, and a weakened immune system, making it hard for your body to fight off disease and infection. In addition, mold can worsen chronic lung and respiratory diseases.
  An HVAC tech can inspect the air ducts for mold. If there is mold in the ducts, it can be removed with an antimicrobial fogger. If the tech doesn’t find mold in the ducts, it could be in the air conditioner, which can be more challenging to eliminate. If the tech can not eliminate every trace of mold, your will need to replace your air conditioner.

• Burning: If you smell something burning when your AC is on, you should turn it off immediately and call an air conditioning service. There could be a wiring or an electrical issue, which can spark an electrical fire, putting your home and family at significant risk. The sooner you make the call; the safer your family will be.

#5 Moisture or Fluid Pooling Around the Unit

The area around the air conditioner in your Arlington, TX home should be dry. If you notice moisture on the floor or walls around the unit or on the unit itself, you should call an air conditioning service. The moisture indicates a broken or disconnected condensate hose. Although this is a simple and inexpensive fix, the moisture can cause water damage and mold growth around the unit, so you should have it checked by an HVAC tech right away.

Fluid pooling around the unit often indicates a refrigerant leak, which is a serious problem. Without adequate refrigerant, the unit won’t produce cold air, and allowing the air conditioner to continue running can cause further damage.

An HVAC tech can repair the leak and refill the refrigerant if you have a newer unit. Unfortunately, things won’t be so simple if your unit is over ten years old. Older units use R-22 refrigerant, which the EPA deemed harmful to the environment and toxic. On January 1, 2020, the United States government banned the production of R-22. An HVAC tech can repair the leak; however, they won’t have R-22 to refill the unit, and you will need to replace the air conditioner.

Moisture and pooling liquid are serious issues, and it is best to schedule an appointment for air conditioning service right away.

#6 Strange Sounds

The air conditioner in your Arlington, TX home should be whisper quiet, except when it cycles, and you will hear a faint clicking sound.

If the unit makes sounds other than an occasional clicking, you should call an air conditioning service.

Banging sounds indicate a broken or loose part or your compressor may be failing. A constant clicking indicates an electrical or thermostat issue, causing the AC to turn off on its own. A high-pitched squealing indicates high pressure in the air conditioner, which is very dangerous; therefore, you should turn off the unit immediately and don’t turn it back on until the problem is resolved.

If you hear any strange sounds other than the occasional clicking, you should call an air conditioning service right away. The longer you wait, the more damage can occur.

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, call Minuteman Heating & Air. We are a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area for years.

Our techs are professionally trained, highly skilled, licensed, and insured and are qualified to handle any HVAC job you have.

If you have an HVAC issue that cannot wait or we aren’t in the office, don’t worry. We provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and will do our best to get a tech to your home as quickly as possible.

To schedule an appointment for air conditioning service or any other HVAC service, give us a call today.