6 Signs It Is Time For Air Conditioning Service | Dallas, TX
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As the weather starts to warm up in Dallas, TX, there is nothing more reassuring than hearing your AC gently humming as it starts to cool down your home. However, just because your AC turned on this year does not mean that it is set to work without problems for the rest of the summer season. While this would be awesome if it were true, problems can happen anytime throughout the summer months and anyone who has ever dealt with a breakdown in the middle of summer can attest to how uncomfortable it can get.
With this in mind, it is important to book your air conditioning service if you haven’t yet and to familiarize yourself with the top signs that you may need air conditioning service. You can’t stop natural wear and tear from occurring, but you can proactively spot problems before they cause a complete breakdown which is the best way to prevent a baking Dallas, TX home during the summer. The following is a quick look at how an annual tune-up can help save you from air conditioning service and a few signs that you should always take seriously. The sooner you book an air conditioning service to troubleshoot issues the more you can relax and just listen to the hum of your AC.
Benefits of an Annual Tune-Up
If you don’t regularly get AC tune-ups, this is a good time to consider changing your tone. A regular AC tune-up can actually save you a lot of money and stress down the line. It is one of the best ways to lengthen the lifespan of your HVAC system and it can help keep your HVAC warranty valid which can help you out down the line depending on the age of your system. In fact, most manufacturers require that you show proof of a regular air conditioning service each year or your warranty will be void.
During a tune-up two things happen, your entire AC is cleaned and the entire system is inspected for broken or down components. It is vital that you have your AC cleaned every year because the amount of dust that can build up inside of your ductwork, machinery, compressor, and even just at the bottom of your outdoor unit can be unbelievable. In fact, if you haven’t had an air conditioning service take a minute to peek into your AC outdoor unit next time you walk by for an idea of how much is hidden in there.
All of the debris inside of the box can actually lead to a hole in the coils or eventually a jammed compressor. These are just a few of the many issues. Soggy leaves or debris that sits in there for too long can grow mold or simply start to eat away at the metal causing corrosion and early aging. You can prevent all of this however with an air conditioning service that will address that problem and more because debris does not just build up around your outdoor unit.
It builds up inside of your indoor unit as well. Take a second to think how filthy your air filter looks when you change it. Now, imagine that the same amount of dust is hiding in crevices that you cannot see within your system, and you breathe all of the air particles that pass by the filth. Just about everyone can agree that clean air is worth a simple AC tune-up, and since you won’t have your windows open during the Dallas, TX summer months clean air comes at a higher premium.
While that alone should be enough reason to consider an air conditioning service, the second benefit is that you get a proactive chance to fix anything that you discover is starting to fail. During the AC tuneup, the tech will carefully examine all components of your AC system, both indoors and outdoors. At the end of the inspection, they will give you a copy of what they found along with their recommendations. If your HVAC system is fairly new they probably won’t see much, but if you have an older system they may recommend fixing a few items that appear to be aging.
It is always a good idea to fix anything that the HVAC tech tells you about because while you may not be affected by a worn-down piece now, you will be when it breaks and your system shuts off. If you don’t make the repair you are playing a very dangerous game that will only end in one way unless you take action and fix it. Machines are not made to last forever, and they won’t if you don’t care for them correctly.
The problem with ignoring one worn-out piece is that other pieces will have to work harder to compensate for the one broken piece. The end result of this compensation is that more components are going to wear down and break. Once you are looking at multiple broken components the damage might be too extensive to consider repairing. At this point, instead of a simple air conditioning service, you will need to replace your entire AC system. For this reason, proactive care and annual air conditioning service are simply the smartest ways to keep your AC functioning smoothly this summer season.
Signs Your AC Needs Air Conditioning Service
Of course, a machine is still fallible, so even with proper service sometimes things break without warning. Sometimes they start to wear out without warning, but most of the time they do realize a few warning signs, you just didn’t know what they were. By learning about the signs your AC system is in distress you can take proper action before things get out of hand. The goal is always to fix your HVAC system before it breaks down or before the problem gets so severe you are looking at a replacement. The following are the top signs that your AC needs air conditioning service.
The Thermostat Doesn’t Seem Like It Is Working
The thermostat is like the brain of your HVAC system, if it is not working correctly it will throw off everything including the ability of your AC to cool your home. Even if the machine is in fine shape, it needs the brain to tell you what to do. The thermostat is responsible for talking to the AC and telling it if it needs to create more cool air. Sporadically it measures the temperature in the home to see if things are cooling off and whether it should start again or not. If your home doesn’t feel cool or you notice that your AC is only running for short periods of time before it snaps off this might be a sign that you need air conditioning service.
Of course, if it won’t turn on at all this can also indicate that there is a thermostat problem. In this instance, you will need to call an HVAC tech to come to investigate, but you can test your thermostat in the meantime. Take a thermometer and place it near your thermostat and record the temperature in the room. Then see what your thermostat says the room is. If the numbers do not match then this is a clear indication something is wrong. You may need to replace your thermostat or there may be an issue with the wiring in your home.
Loud Noises Coming from Inside of Your AC
A gentle hum is relaxing, a squealing sound that resembles a raccoon screeching at night is not at all. The latter sound can come from your AC unit if a belt is slipping out of place or a component is broken inside. Your AC should always operate quietly, so if you hear anything that disturbs that quiet including squealing, grinding, scraping, banging, or knocking you know that there is a problem. The longer you wait to fix the problem the more damage will occur, so you want to seek help from an air conditioning service in Dallas, TX shortly after you notice the noise.
A lot of homeowners make the mistake of waiting to see if the noise will just stop on its own, but in the end, this usually results in a full breakdown. At that point, it becomes an emergency AC repair instead of a scheduled repair and is much more costly. The bottom line is if your AC is talking to you, it is time to listen and call for help.
Warm Air Is Coming Out of Your Vents
Your AC system has one job – to cool your home via cool air. Therefore, if warm air is coming out of your vents you know that you have a big issue on your hands. Luckily, it is one that you can do something about. Call for air conditioning service right away to diagnose why this is happening. It may be that the compressor is not working correctly, or you could have a refrigerant leak and now there is nothing left to actually cool the air. At any rate, circulating warm-temperature air will not cool your home. The only thing it will do is waste money.
Reduced Air Flow From Your Vents
While slightly better than warm air, reduced airflow is still a big issue because it means that your AC system will have to work twice as hard to cool your home, which also means that it will consume twice as much energy. It also means twice as much wear and tear on your home which is a big issue. With this in mind, you need to take proactive measures and call for air conditioning service if you notice that your air vents don’t seem to be circulating as much air as usual.
There are multiple causes of this issue including a clogged air duct and/or issues with your compressor. The best-case scenario is that your air filter is simply clogged, which you can remedy by replacing it on your own. If this doesn’t solve the problem, then you will need to call and make an appointment for an air conditioning service. Reduced airflow can get costly very quickly, and energy bills are likely going to be high this summer in Dallas, TX anyway so you don’t want to add anything additional to the list.
The Air In Your Home Is Humid
Your AC actually has two jobs: to cool down your home and remove humidity from the air. Anyone who has tried to last two hours in the hot Dallas, TX sun can tell you a thing or two about how miserable high humidity rates are. The last thing you want to do is deal with them inside of your home. Even if you manage to cool your home you will never be comfortable if you feel sticky and gross all day. Whether your hair or skin alerts you to the high presence of humidity in your home, it is a clear sign that you need to do something about it.
It Looks Like Your AC Is Leaking
This is a big problem because your AC should never be leaking. Some people make the mistake of thinking that it is just excess moisture, but there is no reason why moisture should be building up near your AC. It’s more likely that you are seeing refrigerant leaking out of your HVAC system which is actually extremely dangerous. Freon is very poisonous and must be properly disposed of so it actually requires emergency air conditioning service. If it isn’t Freon, then your drain pan probably has an issue, but it still needs to be checked because it will lead to mold, mildew, and other unfortunate situations. If you notice this or any other issue in your home, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas. We will be happy to make an air conditioning service call and get you back on your feet.