4 AC Problems That Should Be Handled By A Professional In Air Conditioning Repair | Frisco, TX
Spending time outdoors is great; however, staying outside can be unbearable when it gets really hot and humid during the summer. Many people spend more time in their air-conditioned homes to escape the heat, as long as the air conditioner works correctly.
Air conditioning issues can affect the temperature and humidity in your home. In addition, some problems can affect your home’s air quality or put your home and family at risk.
DIY air conditioner repair isn’t advised. Your AC is complex, and if you make one minor mistake, it can result in further damage and a more expensive repair bill.
HVAC professionals undergo years of training and apprenticeship to learn their craft and receive ongoing training to stay current with the latest HVAC technology. If you don’t have the education and training necessary to fix air conditioning problems, it’s best to hire a professional.
If your air conditioner experiences any of the following problems, it’s best to hire a professional in air conditioning repair in Frisco, TX.
#1 Lack of Cold Air
The most obvious sign it’s time to hire a professional in air conditioning repair is a lack of cold air. There could be a problem if you feel warm air coming from the vents. Before scheduling an appointment with an HVAC tech, check the thermostat settings. The unit won’t get the right signals if the thermostat is set incorrectly, which could be causing the problem. The thermostat must be set to the cooling mode, and it has to be warmer in the house than the temperature setting. Also, the fan must be set to auto. If it remains on, the fan will continue running between cycles, and you’ll feel warm air coming from the vents.
If the thermostat is correctly set, check the air filter. If it’s been a while since you last replaced the filter, it will be covered in dirt and grime, affecting the airflow in the unit and causing it to overheat and shut down. It’s best to check the air filter before calling a professional to avoid an unnecessary service call.
If everything checks out on your end, it’s time to hire a professional in air conditioning repair. A few issues can cause this problem, and you’ll need a licensed HVAC tech to diagnose the problem.
- Refrigerant leak: Refrigerant is necessary for your air conditioner to produce cold air, and a leak will prevent the unit from working correctly. Leaks can occur if the rubber seals around the service valves around the valve stems wear out. A leak can also happen when acid eats away at the copper tubing.
If your air conditioner was installed after 2010, a professional in air conditioning repair in Frisco, TX, can repair the leak and refill the refrigerant. If the unit was installed before 2010, it must be replaced. Air conditioners manufactured before 2010 use R-22 refrigerant, which has been banned in the United States because it’s toxic and depletes the ozone layer. The tech won’t waste time fixing the leak when they don’t have R-22 to fill the unit, and replacing the air conditioner is the only option. - Frozen evaporator coils: Your air conditioner’s evaporator coils extract heat and humidity from the air in your house to start the cooling process. If the coils freeze, they can’t do their job, and the unit won’t produce warm air.
A few issues can cause the coils to freeze, including;- Insufficient airflow in the unit
- The air filter is covered in dirt and grime.
- A clog in the condensate drain
- Low fan speed
- You tried to run the air conditioner when it was too cold outside.
- You can attempt to thaw the coils yourself, but hiring a professional in air conditioning repair is best. Hiring a professional will ensure the coils are thawed safely, and they can determine why the coils froze, allowing the tech to take the necessary steps to prevent it from happening again.
- Faulty compressor: The indoor unit and outdoor compressor work together to keep your home cool and comfortable. If no power goes to the compressor or it isn’t working correctly, the system cannot produce cold air. You’ll need to hire an HVAC tech to determine why the compressor isn’t working and make the necessary repair.
Your home can get dangerously hot if the air conditioner cannot produce cold air, and it’s best to hire a professional in air conditioning repair in Frisco, TX, as soon as possible.
#2 Reduced Airflow
When you stand in front of the vents in your home when the air conditioner runs, you should feel a powerful rush of cold air. Minimal airflow will cause the unit to work harder to keep your home comfortable, causing your energy bills to increase. The extra work will strain the unit, reducing its maximum lifespan. The best way to avoid these problems is to call a professional in air conditioning repair immediately. A few issues can cause poor airflow, and you’ll need an HVAC tech to find the cause.
- Clogged air ducts: The dirt, dust, and debris that accumulates in your home will end up in the air ducts. In one year, up to five pounds of debris can get in the air ducts, restricting the airflow. Clogged air ducts can also affect your home’s air quality. When the air conditioner runs, the debris will circulate in the air, putting your family at risk for allergies and respiratory issues. Fortunately, a professional in air conditioning repair can clean the air ducts, restoring the airflow while making the air quality safe.
- Damaged air ducts: You won’t be able to see visible damage to the air ducts because they’re hidden. If the ducts are damaged, or the seal has failed, the cold air will escape from the damaged area before reaching the vents, resulting in poor airflow.
A professional in air conditioning repair can inspect the ducts for damage and make the necessary repair, restoring adequate airflow. - Faulty blower: The unit’s blower forces the cool air from the unit through the air ducts and to the vents throughout your home. If it isn’t working correctly, it will be challenging for the cold air to reach the vents, resulting in inadequate airflow. An HVAC tech can determine if the blower can be repaired or if a replacement is the best option, restoring the airflow.
It will cost more money to run the air conditioner if you ignore the problem, and the last thing you want is to replace the unit sooner than necessary; therefore, it’s best to hire an air conditioning repair professional in Frisco, TX, as soon as you detect the problem.
#3 Strange Odors When the Unit Runs
Your air conditioner should produce clean, odorless air, and if you smell something strange when the unit runs, there’s a significant cause for concern. Foul odors indicate issues that could put your home and family at risk, so it’s best to hire a professional in air conditioner repair immediately. The odor will help point the tech in the right direction.
- Burning: If you smell something burning when the unit runs, turn it off immediately and hire an air conditioning repair professional. The smell indicates a wiring issue, and the burning smell is caused when the wire insulation burns. This is a serious problem that could spark an electrical fire if left ignored, so it’s best to hire an HVAC tech as soon as you notice the odor. The tech can fix the wiring issue, and turning the air conditioner back on will be safe.
- Mold: A moldy smell indicates the presence of mold somewhere in the HVAC system. The most common place for mold growth is the air ducts because they’re dark, and when it gets humid in your house, condensation will form in the ducts, creating the perfect environment for mold growth.
Mold in the ducts creates a health hazard in your home. When the unit runs, mold spores will circulate in the air, which can make your family sick. Mold exposure can cause various health problems, including:- Allergies
- Respiratory issues
- Chronic headaches
- Skin rashes
- Burning eyes, nose, and throat
- Weakened immune system
- Worsens chronic lung and respiratory conditions
- A professional in air conditioning repair in Frisco, TX, can inspect the ducts for mold and use an antimicrobial fogger to eliminate it. If they don’t find mold in the ducts, it could be in the air conditioner, which can be a serious problem because it can be challenging to eradicate the mold. Mold growth can occur if you neglect to maintain the unit yearly and will risk your family’s health. If the tech can eliminate the mold, you should consider installing a UV lamp to prevent future mold growth. If they can’t remove every last spore, you’ll need to replace the unit to prevent your family from being exposed to mold.
You can protect your home and family by hiring a professional in air conditioning repair if you detect a foul smell, and you should make the call immediately.
#4 Strange Sounds
Your air conditioner should be relatively quiet when it runs, and the only thing you should hear is a faint clicking sound when the unit cycles. If the unit makes any of the following sounds, hiring an air conditioning repair tech in Frisco, TX, is best.
- Banging: Banging noises indicate loose or broken parts in the compressor, which can cause further damage if ignored, and it’s best to call an air conditioning repair service as soon as the banging starts.
- Screeching: Screeching noises indicate an issue with the indoor or compressor fan. It can also be caused by a broken condenser motor.
- Humming: This sound indicates a defective contactor relay switch, which receives a signal from the thermostat, letting it know to kick on. It’s best to hire an air conditioning repair tech to fix the problem to keep the unit running.
- Buzzing: A buzzing sound indicates unbalanced fan blades in the outdoor compressor. It can also be due to a faulty outdoor fan motor, dirty condenser coils, or loose components.
- Hissing: This sound indicates a significant leak in the air ducts or a refrigerant leak.
- High-pitched screaming: This sound indicates high pressure in the unit, and you should turn it off immediately and hire a professional in air conditioning repair. Allowing the unit to run will cause further damage and result in an expensive repair bill.
Strange sounds coming from the unit should never be ignored because further damage could occur. A professional in air conditioner repair in Frisco, TX, can inspect the unit to find the source of the sound and make the necessary repair.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas Today
If your air conditioner is acting up and you need to hire a professional in air conditioning repair, look no further than One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas. We’re a full-service HVAC company, helping customers in the area since 1988.
Our techs have undergone years of training and are NATE certified. They are highly skilled and have the knowledge and experience to handle any HVAC problem, whether something simple or complex. Our techs are required to receive ongoing training to ensure they’re up-to-date on the latest HVAC technology, allowing them to work on the newest HVAC models.
We want you to feel comfortable when you allow our techs into your home, so we have a strict hiring process. Applicants must pass a background check and a drug test and register with the state of Texas before they’re hired.
Your comfort is our top priority, and if you have an HVAC problem that affects your home’s temperature or puts your home and family at risk, we provide emergency service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We’ll get a tech to your home to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.
To schedule an appointment for air conditioning repair or any other HVAC service, give us a call today.