6 AC Problems That Require Air Conditioning Repair | Frisco, TX
Most homes today have air conditioning. According to the Energy Information Association, 87 percent of the homes in the U.S. have air conditioning, and 75 percent have central air conditioning because it’s impossible to stay cool and comfortable at home without air conditioning.
Frisco, TX, summers are very hot, and it isn’t uncommon for the temperature to reach 90 degrees or higher on most days. Spending too much time outside when it’s this hot puts you at risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke, so you spend more time in your air-conditioned home to escape the heat. If your air conditioner isn’t running the way it should, you won’t have an escape from the heat, putting your family’s health at risk.
DIY air conditioning repair isn’t recommended unless you are a licensed HVAC tech. Although there are plenty of DIY repair videos online, it’s easy to make a mistake, which can cause further damage to the system, resulting in a more expensive repair bill.
If the air conditioner in your Frisco, TX home experiences any of the following problems, it’s best to call a professional in air conditioning repair.
#1 Faulty Thermostat
The thermostat in your Frisco, TX home is your air conditioner’s brain, and it sends commands to the air conditioner based on the settings you choose. If the thermostat isn’t working, it can cause multiple problems with your cooling system that could require air conditioning repair.
There are a few signs to let you know your thermostat is broken, including:
- The panel doesn’t light up even after you replace the batteries.
- The thermostat is unresponsive.
- The temperature in the house doesn’t match the temperature on the thermostat.
- The air conditioner cycles more often than it should.
If your thermostat experiences any of the following issues, a professional in air conditioning repair can help. They can inspect the thermostat to determine if it can be repaired or if it’s time to replace it.
If the tech determines the thermostat should be replaced, you have more options than you did 15 years ago. Back then, the only money-saving option was a programmable thermostat that allowed you to set the temperature to increase or decrease for the whole week based on when you’re home and when you aren’t. Programmable thermostats can help save money, but programming for the entire week can be time-consuming.
Today, you can have a WiFi thermostat installed. You can adjust the thermostat using your cell phone from anywhere there’s an internet connection. You can also install a smart thermostat that works with smart devices, such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa. You can control the thermostat with the sound of your voice when you’re home and with the smart device’s app when you aren’t.
These thermostats are great because you don’t need to spend time programming the thermostat based on your schedule. Instead, you can adjust the thermostat quickly, regardless of where you are.
If you aren’t sure which thermostat is best, a professional in air conditioning repair can discuss the pros and cons of each thermostat, helping you make a more informed decision.
#2 Reduced Airflow
The air conditioner in your Frisco, TX home is designed to produce cold air that travels through the air ducts and to the vents in every room of your house. If you stand in front of a vent and feel minimal airflow, you should call an air conditioning repair service as soon as possible.
Poor airflow will cause your air conditioner to work harder to keep your house cool, causing your energy bills to increase. If the problem isn’t fixed right away, the extra work will put excess strain on the air conditioner, reducing its maximum lifespan.
A few issues can cause poor airflow, and you will need a professional in air conditioning repair to find the cause.
- Dirty air ducts: Regardless of how clean you keep your home, dirt, dust, and other debris will accumulate in the air ducts, creating a clog in the ducts, restricting the airflow. When the air conditioner runs, the debris will circulate in the air, affecting your home’s air quality, and your family can develop allergy symptoms.
A professional in air conditioning repair can clean the air ducts, restoring the airflow. - Damaged air ducts: The air ducts in your home are hidden; therefore, you can’t see any visible damage. The only sign of damaged air ducts is reduced airflow. When the air conditioner runs, the cold air will escape from the damaged area, reducing the airflow. An AC repair service can send a tech to inspect the air ducts and repair the damaged area.
- Faulty blower: The unit’s blower forces the cold air from the unit, through the ducts, and to the vents throughout your home. The air won’t be pushed through the vents if the blower isn’t working, causing poor airflow. A professional in AC repair can repair the blower, and if it can’t be repaired, the blower will need to be replaced.
Reduced airflow can affect your home’s temperature, energy bills and can reduce the unit’s lifespan; therefore, it’s best to call an air conditioning repair service as soon as you notice the problem.
#3 Strange Smells
When you turn on the air conditioner for the first time during the cooling season, it’s normal to smell the dust accumulated on the unit when it isn’t in use. Fortunately, the smell will dissipate after a few minutes when the dust burns off. If you smell any other strange odors in your Frisco, TX home only when the air conditioner runs, you should call a professional in AC repair right away.
The odor in the home can help the tech figure out what is causing the smell.
- Burning: A burning smell indicates an electrical or wiring issue, and the odor is caused by the wire insulation burning. Wiring and electrical issues are fire hazards, and an electrical fire can put your home and family at significant risk. A professional in air conditioning repair can inspect the unit to find the affected wires and make the necessary repair. It’s best to avoid using the air conditioner until the problem is resolved.
- Mold: A moldy smell could indicate mold in the air conditioner. If you don’t have the unit serviced every year, mold growth can occur, and the spores will circulate in the air when the air conditioner runs. Eradicating mold from an air conditioner can be challenging, and if the tech can eliminate every trace of mold, you will need to replace the unit.
The smell could also be due to mold in the air ducts. The ducts are dark and hidden, and when it gets humid in your home, condensation will form in the ducts, creating the perfect environment for mold growth.
When the air conditioner runs, mold spores will circulate in the air, which is hazardous to your family’s health. Mold exposure causes various health problems such as allergies, respiratory problems, skin rashes, chronic headaches, and a weakened immune system. If a member of your family has a chronic lung or respiratory condition, mold exposure will worsen their symptoms and condition.
A professional in air conditioning repair can use an antimicrobial fogger to eradicate the mold and prevent future mold growth.
Strange smells indicate issues that can put your home and family at risk; therefore, it’s best to call an AC repair service as soon as possible.
#4 The Unit Produces Warm Air
If the air conditioner in your Frisco, TX home produces warm air, your home won’t be cool and comfortable, and you may need to call a professional in air conditioning repair. You should check a couple of things before making the call to avoid an unnecessary service call.
First, check the air filter. If it’s been a while since you replaced the air filter, it can become clogged with dirt and debris, and the air won’t move through the unit, causing it to overheat. Replacing the air filter will allow the air to move, and the unit will produce cold air.
Next, check the thermostat. If it’s not set correctly, the unit won’t produce cold air. First, make sure it’s set to the cooling mode. Next, make sure the fan is set to “auto.” If you leave it set to “on,” it will keep running when the unit cycles, and you will feel warm air coming from the vents.
If everything checks out on your end, it’s time to call a professional in air conditioning repair. A few issues can cause the unit to produce cold air, and you will need a licensed HVAC tech to find the cause.
- Broken thermostat: If your thermostat isn’t working correctly, the air conditioner won’t receive the commands, causing it to produce warm air.
- Frozen evaporator coils: The evaporator coils extract heat and moisture from the air to begin the cooling process. If the coils are frozen, they can’t start the cooling process, and the unit will produce warm air. A few issues can cause the coils to freeze, including:
- Closed off air registers
- Malfunctioning air handler
- Faulty drip pan
- You ran the air conditioner when it’s too cold outside
- A professional in AC repair can thaw the coils to begin the cooling process. They can also inspect the unit to determine why the evaporator coils froze to prevent it from happening again.
- Refrigerant leak: Your air conditioner relies on refrigerant to produce cold air. A refrigerant leak will deplete the refrigerant supply, preventing the unit from producing cold air.
An HVAC tech can fix the leak and refill the refrigerant, so the unit can start producing cold air again.
If your air conditioner produces warm air, your home can become dangerously hot, putting your family’s health at risk; therefore, it’s best to call a professional in air conditioning repair immediately.
#5 Moisture or Pooling Fluid
Moisture on the floor, walls, and the air conditioner indicates a cracked, clogged, or disconnected condensate hose. This is a relatively simple fix; however, it still requires a call to a professional in air conditioning repair. Allowing the problem to persist can cause water damage and mold growth around the unit, so it should be fixed immediately.
Fluid pooling around the unit could indicate a refrigerant leak, which is more serious. A lack of refrigerant will prevent the unit from producing cold air, and you should schedule an appointment for emergency air conditioning repair. The HVAC tech can repair the leak and refill the refrigerant if your air conditioner is less than ten years old. If the air conditioner in your home is over ten years old, the tech can fix the leak, but they won’t be able to refill the refrigerant. Older units use R-22 refrigerant, which is toxic and harmful to the ozone layer. On January 1, 2020, the U.S. government banned all production of R-22, and the HVAC tech won’t be able to refill the refrigerant, and you will have to replace the air conditioner.
#6 Strange Sounds
Your air conditioner should be quiet when it runs. It’s normal to hear a low-level clicking sound when the unit cycles. Other sounds indicate problems requiring a call to a professional in air conditioning repair in Frisco, TX.
Banging, clanging, and rattling sounds indicate loose or broken parts in the unit. These sounds can also indicate problems with the indoor blower or the outdoor fan. If you hear a high-pitched screaming sound, turn off the unit immediately and schedule an appointment for emergency air conditioning repair. The sound indicates high pressure in the system and can cause the compressor to fail, and a repair or replacement is very expensive.
It’s best to call a professional as soon as you hear any strange sounds to prevent the problem from escalating to a major issue that will cost significantly more to repair.
Why Choose One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas?
If your air conditioner is acting up and you need a professional in air conditioning repair, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas. We are a full-service HVAC company, proudly serving customers in the area since 1988. Our techs are professionally trained, skilled, and capable of handling all HVAC services.
If you have an air conditioning problem that can’t wait, we provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and will get a technician to your home as quickly as possible.
To schedule an appointment for air conditioning repair or any other HVAC service, give us a call today.