6 AC Problems That Require A Call To An Air Conditioning Repair Service | Dallas, TX
Dallas, TX is a wonderful place to live, but the summertime can be unbearably hot, with temperatures reaching 92 to 96 degrees. When it gets this hot outside, many people spend more time indoors to escape the heat. If your air conditioner isn’t working correctly, you can’t escape the heat in your home, and it can become dangerously hot inside. When it’s 90+ degrees outside, the temperature in your house can reach 120 degrees, making it impossible to be comfortable. In addition, high temperatures can put your family at risk for heat-related conditions, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. If an elderly family member or a person in poor health lives in your home, temperatures this high can be extremely dangerous.
You should be able to recognize the signs of an issue with your air conditioner early to prevent a complete AC breakdown during the hottest time of the year.
If your air conditioner experiences any of the following issues, you should call an air conditioning repair service when the problem begins.
#1 Faulty Thermostat
The thermostat in your home sends signals to the HVAC system to let it know what you want it to do. For example, the thermostat lets the system know if you want it to produce warm or cold air and the desired temperature. If the thermostat isn’t working correctly, the HVAC system won’t receive the signals, preventing it from doing its job.
There are a few signs that your thermostat is broken, including:
- The thermostat doesn’t light up even after replacing the batteries.
- The thermostat is unresponsive.
- The air conditioner cycles too often.
- The temperature in the house doesn’t match the setting on the thermostat.
If you suspect your thermostat is broken, it’s best to call an air conditioning repair service right away. A tech can inspect the thermostat to confirm it’s broken and go over the thermostat options with you. This will help you choose the best thermostat for your home and lifestyle.
- Programmable: Programmable thermostats are the first type of thermostat to save money on your energy bills. You can program the thermostat at the beginning of the week, allowing the thermostat to adjust itself based on the settings you choose.
- Wi-Fi: Wi-fi thermostats are one of the newer money-saving options. If you don’t want to spend time programming a thermostat, Wi-Fi is an excellent alternative. You can adjust the thermostat using your Smartphone from anywhere as long as there’s an internet connection.
- Smart: This is the newest option available, and smart thermostats work with smart devices, such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa. You can adjust the thermostat using the sound of your voice when you’re home and on the app when you aren’t home.
Your air conditioner will function correctly when your new thermostat is installed, and your home will be cool.
#2 The Unit Isn’t Producing Cold Air
You should feel cold air when you stand in front of a vent in your Dallas, TX home. If the air is warm, you should call an air conditioning repair tech as quickly as possible. The warm air will make your home hotter, and it will be a dangerous environment.
You can fix some issues yourself, and before wasting money on an unnecessary service call, you should check a couple of things before calling a professional in air conditioning repair.
- Check the air filters: HVAC techs recommend changing the air filter in your system every 90 days. If you have pets or a family member has allergies, you should replace the filter every 45 days. If you neglect to replace the air filter, it can become clogged with dirt and debris, preventing air from moving through the unit and causing it to overheat, producing warm air. If the air filter is clogged, changing it will resolve the problem.
- Check the thermostat setting: The air conditioner can’t work correctly if the thermostat isn’t set correctly. First, the thermostat must be set to the cooling mode to produce cold air. Next, check the fan setting. It has to be set to auto, and if the fan is on, it will continue running between cycles, producing warm air. Finally, check the temperature setting. It has to be warmer in the house than the thermostat setting for the cooling process to begin.
If you’ve checked the air filter and the thermostat and they weren’t the cause, it’s time to call an air conditioning repair service. A few issues can prevent the air conditioner in your Dallas, TX home from producing cold air, and an HVAC tech can determine the cause.
- Refrigerant leak: Air conditioners require an adequate amount of refrigerant to produce cold air. Formaldehyde corrosion or formic acid can erode the metal, creating small holes in the metal and causing a refrigerant leak. An air conditioning repair professional can repair the leak and refill the refrigerant, and the unit will produce cold air.
A refrigerant leak is a major problem if your air conditioner was installed before 2010. Older units use R22 refrigerant, which is highly toxic and damaging to the ozone layer, and production was banned by the U.S. government on January 1, 2020. The air conditioning repair tech can fix the refrigerant leak, but they won’t have R22 to refill the unit, and replacing the air conditioner is the only option.
- Frozen evaporator coils: Your air conditioner has evaporator coils that use the warm air in the house to start the cooling process. If the coils are frozen, they can’t do their job, and you’ll feel warm air coming from the vents.
A few issues can cause the evaporator coils to freeze, including:- Dirty air filter
- A broken fan, preventing proper airflow.
- Dirty coils
- Faulty drip pan
- You ran the air conditioner when it was too cold outside.
- An air conditioning repair service can thaw the coils and make the necessary repair to prevent the coils from freezing again.
- Faulty compressor: The indoor unit and the compressor work together to produce cold air. If the compressor stops working or isn’t working correctly, you’ll feel warm air coming from the vents.
An air conditioning repair tech can inspect the compressor to make the necessary repair, allowing the unit to produce cold air.
A lack of cold air is dangerous when it’s 90+ degrees outside; therefore, you should call an emergency air conditioning repair service when the problem is detected.
#3 Strange Sounds
The air conditioner in your home is designed to be relatively quiet, so you aren’t disturbed when it is running. You will hear a faint clicking sound when the unit cycles and any other sounds require a call to an air conditioning repair company.
Banging and clanging sounds indicate a few issues, including:
- A loose or broken part in the indoor unit
- The indoor blower fan’s blades could be loose.
- There is a loose or broken part in the compressor, such as a connector rod or piston pin.
- Sticks, leaves, or debris stuck in the outdoor fan.
A high-pitched squealing sound indicates high pressure in the unit, which is serious because it can cause the compressor to fail or break down permanently, costing a fortune to replace. It’s best to shut the unit down immediately and call an air conditioning repair service.
Finally, a hissing sound indicates a refrigerant leak that can cause the unit to produce warm air.
You shouldn’t try to ignore strange sounds because the longer the problem persists, more damage will occur and will be more expensive to repair.
#4 Restricted Airflow
When you stand in front of the vents in your Dallas, TX home and the AC is on, you should feel a powerful rush of cold air. If you feel minimal airflow, you should call an air conditioning repair service as soon as possible.
Restricted airflow can make it challenging for the air conditioner to keep your home cool. Inadequate airflow will cause the air conditioner to work harder to keep the house cool, causing your energy bills to increase significantly. In addition, when the air conditioner works harder than usual, it puts strain on the system, reducing its maximum lifespan. The only way to prevent these issues from happening is by calling an air conditioning repair service right away.
A few issues can restrict the airflow from the vents, and you will need an air conditioning repair tech to determine the cause.
- Clogged air ducts: HVAC experts recommend having the air ducts in your home cleaned by a professional every three to five years. If you’ve neglected to have the ducts cleaned, they can become clogged with several pounds of dirt and debris, restricting the airflow.
An air conditioning repair company can send a tech to your home to clean the ducts and restore adequate airflow.
- Damaged air ducts; The air ducts deliver cold air from the unit to the vents throughout your home. The ducts are hidden, so you won’t know they are damaged, and restricted airflow is a common symptom of damaged ducts. When the air conditioner runs, the cold air will escape from the damaged areas, reducing the airflow. In addition, the warm air outside can leak into the ducts, affecting your home’s temperature.
A professional in air conditioning repair can inspect the ducts for damage and failed seals, restoring adequate airflow.
- Faulty blower: The unit’s blower forces the air from the unit to the vents. If the blower is broken or has failed, the cold air won’t be forced to the vents, resulting in minimal airflow.
An air conditioning repair tech can inspect the blower to determine if it can be fixed or if a replacement is the best option.
Restricted airflow can affect the temperature in your Dallas, TX home and can cause financial problems. It’s best to schedule an appointment for air conditioning repair when the problem starts.
#5 Strange Smells In Your Home
A properly functioning air conditioner shouldn’t emit a strange smell when it runs. When you turn on the unit for the first time during the cooling season, it’s normal to smell dust, which should dissipate after a few minutes.
If you smell any other strange smells in your Dallas, TX home when the AC runs, you should call an emergency air conditioning repair service. The odor can help the tech determine the cause of the problem, letting them know where to start.
- Burning: A burning smell indicates an electrical or wiring issue, which is very dangerous. If you ignore the smell, the wiring or electrical problems can start an electrical fire, putting your home and family at significant risk.
An air conditioning repair company can send a tech to find the source of the smell and make the necessary repair.
- Mold: A moldy smell often indicates mold in the air ducts. The ducts are dark, and when it gets humid in your home, the humidity will cause condensation to form in the ducts, creating the perfect environment for mold growth.
If there’s mold in the ducts, mold spores will circulate in the air when the air conditioner runs, putting your health and your family’s health at significant risk. According to the Center For Disease Control, mold exposure is hazardous and causes a number of health issues, including:- Allergy symptoms
- Breathing and respiratory issues
- Skin rashes
- Eye irritation
- Frequent headaches
- Weakened immune system
- If you or a family member has a chronic lung or respiratory condition, mold exposure can worsen the symptoms and condition.
An air conditioning repair service can send a tech to inspect the air ducts for mold, and if they find any, it can be eradicated using an antimicrobial fogger. The fogger will also prevent mold growth between air duct cleanings.
If the tech doesn’t find mold in the air ducts, it’s likely in the air conditioner. Mold growth can occur in the unit if you neglect to have the unit maintained every year before the cooling season begins. It can be challenging to remove mold from the unit, and if they can’t eradicate every trace of mold, you will need to replace the air conditioner.
Strange smells indicate problems that can put your home and family at risk; therefore, it’s best to schedule an appointment for emergency air conditioning repair as soon as you notice the smell.
#6 Fluid Leaking
Moisture around the air conditioner indicates a broken, clogged, or disconnected condensate hose. This is a relatively simple fix, but you should immediately call an air conditioning repair expert to prevent water damage and mold growth.
You have a significant problem on your hands if fluid leaks from the air conditioner in your Dallas, TX home. This often indicates a refrigerant leak, which requires an emergency air conditioning repair appointment. A refrigerant leak will prevent the unit from producing warm air and eventually cause a complete breakdown.
An air conditioning repair company can send a tech to your home to repair the leak or replace the unit if it was installed before 2010.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas Today
If your air conditioner isn’t functioning correctly or is experiencing any of the signs listed above, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas. We are a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area since 1988. Many of our customers have been loyal customers for decades, thanks to the excellent service we provide.
Our techs are professionally trained, highly skilled, and qualified to handle all HVAC problems. We also provide emergency service if you have an HVAC issue that can’t wait.
To schedule an appointment for air conditioning repair or any other HVAC service, give us a call today.