8 Signs You Need Air Conditioning Repair | Frisco, TX
There is never a good time for your AC to break down in Frisco, TX. If you are comfortably sitting in your home and start to smell odd odors or hear suspicious sounds your stomach might drop a little. Air conditioning repair is a necessary evil of life in the south. Unlike other places where AC can be considered a luxury, in Texas AC is a requirement of life. Temperatures can reach high enough that it becomes unsafe to live in your home without AC which is why it is important to always stay ahead of AC repair.
The main goal for anyone living in Frisco, TX should be to make sure you get prompt air conditioning repair before your AC kicks off. Most of the time, an AC system does not just break down, there are usually indicators that can signal issues if you are aware of what your AC is attempting to tell you. While odd smells and odd noises are two very noticeable indicators, there are dozens of other signs that it is time for air conditioning repair. Learning to look for these signs is what can save you from facing a complete breakdown.
Another great way to stay ahead of air conditioning repair is by taking the time to book an annual AC service. An AC service is the best way to detect whether or not your system is working at full capacity. There are three different goals of an annual air conditioning repair service, and all three of those goals will help you to prevent air conditioning repair, which is something most homeowners can get on board with. In addition, the process itself will help identify any issues so that they can be promptly troubleshot in the future if need be.
How Can AC Service Help Me Stay Ahead of AC Repair?
As mentioned, there are three objectives to an air conditioning service, and all three ensure that your air conditioning system stays in top condition so that you don’t have to worry about air conditioning repair any time soon. In addition, throughout the process, the technician will be looking and inspecting components to see if anything looks rough or in need of repair. Sometimes finding issues before they are completely broken is the best way to budget and stay ahead of issues.
The first goal of air conditioning service is to clean out all of the dust and debris from your air conditioning unit. Most people are quite surprised by how much dust can build up during the service. This is also a good time to check the condition of your air filters and make recommendations on how often they should be changed. While most technicians do not replace the AC filters while they are, they can look at the condition and make a fair guess on how often you should be changing yours based on how used they are and the last time you have them replaced. As an aside, keeping up with your filters so that air can pass easily throughout your system is one of the best ways to stay ahead of air conditioning repair in Frisco, TX.
The second goal is to inspect every component inside of your AC unit to see if there are any parts that are starting to rust or show signs of wear. At the end of the service the HVAC technician will write a detailed inspection report that they will then give to you. This will not only enlighten you on the condition of your HVAC system, but it will also help you to plan for the future. During the air conditioning repair service visit there is no pressure for you to purchase any product or make any repair, but it does offer you insight so that you can budget for air conditioning repair and make repairs and changes on your own time schedule.
The third goal is to give you a better idea on the life expectancy of your unit. What the technician finds while they are cleaning out your HVAC system will give them a good idea on how much longer you can expect your HVAC unit to run at full capacity. Once again, this knowledge will help you prepare and plan so that you can make the best decision without finding yourself in an emergency situation. The goal of almost all HVAC repair is to avoid an emergency breakdown, which can be done if you keep up with your service and are proactive about air conditioning repair.
As a side note, proper AC service can help you keep your HVAC warranty valid, which is one reason to book it even if you have a newer unit. Many people don’t realize that their warranty will be void after a year if they do not keep up with the required service visit. When you consider the expense of your AC unit, it is well worth it to schedule a service once a year so that you don’t have to worry about your warranty.
8 Common Signs You Need AC Repair
Now that you know about the value of an AC service, the next step is identifying when it may be time for air conditioning repair. If you have not had anyone out to your home to look at your AC lately, then it may be time to go ahead and book a visit now. It certainly won’t hurt to get a general inspection of your AC to see if there is anything that you need to worry about in the future. Staying aware of the overall condition of your AC is a great way to budget for the future so that you aren’t caught off-guard by things.
On the other hand, sometimes your air conditioning system itself will give you hints that it is time for an air conditioning repair visit. The following are eight of the largest signs that your AC system needs air conditioning repair. If you notice any of these signs, make sure that you call your local Frisco, TX HVAC company to schedule an appointment right away.
Keep in mind that this is not a complete list, and there may be other signs that you need air conditioning repair. As a general rule of thumb, if you have any reason to suspect that something is wrong with your AC system, it is always better to call than wait. We tell all of our clients to trust their guts, and if you are worried that something doesn’t seem right there is a good chance it isn’t. Any HVAC company would rather you call right away for advice versus waiting until your entire system shuts down. Some signs can even be health risks, so never delay if you have any reason to be concerned about your AC system.
Warm Air
While it should go without saying, if you notice that your AC system is only blowing out warm air can, you probably have an issue with your compressor that needs to be checked out by a qualified HVAC technician. The other problem this could be attributed to is if your AC system is leaking refrigerant. Without proper coolant, your AC system will be unable to cool down the air, which will lead to warm air coming out of your vents. Obviously, this is an issue that needs to be resolved quickly; otherwise, your home will not be able to cool correctly.
Rapid Cycling
Another common side that there is something wrong with your AC system that may require air-conditioning repair is if you notice that your system is constantly cycling. Often referred to as rapid cycling, this is the process of when your AC system turns on and off rapidly throughout the day. Your system uses the most energy when starting up, so if it is constantly starting up then, you would likely be spending more on energy bills than you should be. This is also the most labor-intensive part of cooling your home, which means that if your AC system is constantly cycling it is breaking down and causing more wear and tear to occur. Therefore you want to make sure you act properly and get proper air conditioning repair completed to address the problem and prevent it from happening in the future.
Suspicious Odors
There are a lot of smells that can be coming out of your air vents that should not, starting with an odd odor like gas, smoke, or electrical burning. If you smell anything like natural gas, then you should immediately turn off your complete HVAC system and wait for an HVAC technician to arrive. This is an emergency situation and needs to be addressed right away because gas is extremely explosive and can be a major health issue for everybody in your home.
Smoke or an electrical burning smell is also an emergent issue because it may indicate that something is wrong with the wiring within your HVAC system. This could present a fire hazard that needs also to be addressed right away for the safety of everybody in your home. In this scenario, you should also quickly shut off your HVAC system and then call an air-conditioning repair company to come out to your home promptly before turning it back on.
Suspicious Noises
Contrary to popular belief, a noise coming from your air-conditioning unit will not go away but will actually probably get louder before it quits altogether along with your entire AC unit. For this reason, if you hear any suspicious noises, you need to have them addressed right away by a qualified HVAC company. Some noises in particular that should raise red flags for you include banging, whistling, squealing, knocking, or hissing noises. In short, anything that is new or makes noise outside of a gentle hum should be investigated by a qualified air conditioning repair company.
Water Leaks
There is no situation in which your air-conditioning unit will actually leak, which means that if you notice moisture or a water leak near your system, you probably have an issue with your refrigerant. Refrigerant is the cooling that enables your air-conditioning unit to blow cool air throughout your home. It is also a highly toxic material that can cause problems to everybody in your home if it is touched or ingested. Given how deadly it is and the fact that it will prevent your AC unit from working correctly, a refrigerant link is considered an emergency situation that needs to be taken care of immediately by a qualified air conditioning repair technician.
Humidity Is High in Your Home
If your air-conditioning system is doing its job correctly, then you should not have any humidity in the air. Part of the job of an effective air conditioning system is to remove the humidity that makes you feel sticky and uncomfortable. A home with too much humidity will never feel cool regardless of how long and how hard the AC system is running. With that in mind, if your air-conditioning system is running properly but there’s still high humidity in your home then it may be time to talk about installing a home humidifier that a qualified HVAC technician can walk you through.
Diminished Airflow
Another reason that you may want to call for air conditioning repair is if you notice diminished airflow. This is often attributed to a clogged filter or something blocking your ducts. If the problem is attributed to just one duct in your home, then you may need to have it cleaned. Still, if the issue was occurring in many air vents throughout your home, then you will want to have air-conditioning repair taken care of quickly to get to the root of the problem before something goes wrong.
High Utility Bills
Finally, high utility bills can signal that your AC system is no longer working effectively. If there is no reason for your energy bills to jump, but you continue to see them constantly rising, it is time to call an HVAC company to come out and take a look. If you notice this or any other issue, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas and we can set up an appointment for a maintenance call at your Frisco, TX home.