Is Your Air Conditioner Acting Up? Call For An Air Conditioning Service | Richardson, TX
You rely on your air conditioner during the summer months to stay cool and comfortable while at home. It’s not uncommon for it to reach 95 degrees in Texas on a summer day, which is too hot to spend time outside, and your air-conditioned house is a perfect place to escape the heat.
Your home’s temperature will be affected if the air conditioner isn’t working correctly, and it can reach 120 degrees inside on a 90-degree day, and when it gets this hot, heat exhaustion and heatstroke can occur. Some issues can affect the unit’s ability to dehumidify the house, and some can risk your home or family.
The best way to prevent minor issues from wreaking havoc on your life, home, and family is to detect a problem before escalating to something more serious that will cost more to fix. If your air conditioner experiences any of the following issues, call an air conditioning service in Richardson, TX.
#1 Thermostat Issues
The thermostat is your air conditioner’s brain, telling it when to turn on and off and how cool you want your home to be. If the thermostat isn’t working correctly, your air conditioner won’t either, and it’s best to call an air conditioning service if the thermostat exhibits any of the following problems after changing the batteries.
- The screen doesn’t light up.
- The screen is unresponsive.
- The temperature inside doesn’t match the thermostat setting.
- The unit won’t turn on when necessary.
- The unit cycles too frequently
An air conditioning service in Richardson, TX will send a tech to your home to confirm the thermostat is faulty and replace it. Thermostat technology has improved significantly over the years, and some thermostats can help save money on your electric bills, including:
- Programmable thermostats: These are the oldest of the three thermostats that can help save money. You can program the thermostat a week in advance to turn up and down based on when you’re home and when you aren’t. Your electric bills will decrease if the unit isn’t running on full-blast 24/4.
- WiFi thermostats: If you don’t want to spend time programming a thermostat for the week or if your schedule changes all the time, a WiFi thermostat is an excellent option. You can control the air conditioner on your Smartphone from anywhere as long as there’s an internet connection. This thermostat allows you to turn on the AC or turn it up before heading home, so your house will be cool when you get there.
- Smart thermostats: These thermostats work with Amazon Alexa or Google Home. You can control the AC using the sound of your voice at home and on the smart device’s app when you’re away. Having the ability to control the thermostat from anywhere can save money on your energy bills.
If you aren’t sure which type of thermostat is best for you, the HVAC tech can go over your options in detail so you can make an informed decision.
#2 Your House Is Humid
Your air conditioner is designed to pump cold air into your house, and it’s also designed to eliminate humidity from the air. If your home is humid when the unit runs, it’s best to call an air conditioning service in Richardson, TX.
A few issues can prevent the unit from eliminating humidity, including:
- The indoor evaporator coil is dirty and can’t remove the heat and humidity.
- The thermostat fan is set to ON rather than AUTO.
- There’s a refrigerant leak.
- The ducts are damaged and leaking cold air.
- The AC is too large for your home and frequently cycles, preventing it from dehumidifying the house.
If the thermostat fan is set correctly, an air conditioning service will send a tech to your house to inspect the unit to determine the cause. When the job is complete, your home won’t be humid and sticky and will be cool and comfortable again.
#3 Minimal Airflow
Sufficient airflow is essential to keep your house cool and comfortable, and you should feel an intense rush of cold air when standing in front of the vents. If you feel minimal airflow, it’s best to call an air conditioning service in Richardson, TX immediately.
Not only will an airflow issue affect your home’s temperature, but it will also affect your bank account. Insufficient airflow will cause your air conditioner to work harder to keep the house cool and consume more energy, causing your electric bills to increase. In addition, the extra work will put significant strain on the unit, reducing its lifespan. You’ll need to replace it sooner than you should have, so it’s best to call an air conditioning service immediately.
A few issues can prevent sufficient airflow, including:
- Faulty blower: The blower is a fan designed to force cold air to the vents. If the blower isn’t working, some cold air will travel through the ducts to the vents, but it won’t be enough to keep the house cool.
An HVAC tech will inspect the blower to determine if the issue can be fixed or if replacing the blower is the best option. - Clogged air ducts: Dirt, dust, and debris from the house will get into the air ducts, regardless of how clean you keep your home. The debris will accumulate over time, and five pounds can accumulate in one year. When too much debris accumulates, it will clog the ducts, preventing the cold air from reaching the vents. In addition, the debris can affect your home’s air quality. When the AC runs, the debris will get into the air, causing your family to develop allergy symptoms.
An air conditioning service in Richardson, TX will send a tech to clean the air ducts to restore adequate airflow. They’ll also suggest cleaning the ducts every three to five years to prevent them from clogging again. - Damaged air ducts: The air ducts are hidden for aesthetic purposes, so you can’t see visible damage, and the only sign of damage is minimal airflow from the vents. If there’s a crack or break in the ducts or the sealing fails, the cold air will escape before reaching the vents, resulting in aluminum airflow. An air conditioning service will send a tech to inspect the ducts and repair any damage to restore sufficient airflow.
Insufficient airflow will prevent the air conditioner from keeping your home cool, and neglecting to address the issue can cost a lot of money over time, so it’s best to make the call immediately.
#4 The Unit Isn’t Producing Cold Air
Your air conditioner is designed to produce cold air to keep your house cool during the summer. Check the thermostat and air filter if you feel warm air coming from the vents. The thermostat has to be set to the cooling mode, the fan must be set to AUTO, and it must be warmer in the house than the thermostat setting. If the thermostat is set incorrectly, adjusting it should solve the problem. Next, check the air filter. If you haven’t replaced it on schedule and it’s covered in dirt and grime, air won’t flow through the unit, causing it to overheat and produce warm air. If the filter is clogged, replacing it will solve the problem. If the thermostat is correctly set and the filter is clean, it’s time to call an air conditioning service in Richardson, TX. A few reasons can prevent the unit from producing cold air, and you’ll need a licensed HVAC tech to diagnose and repair the problem.
- Refrigerant leak: When formic acid builds up on the tubes, it can create pinholes, allowing the refrigerant to leak. Your air conditioner relies on refrigerant to produce cold air, and a refrigerant leak will prevent this from happening.
If your unit was manufactured after 2010, the air conditioning service would send a tech to your house to fix the leak and refill the refrigerant. However, if the unit was manufactured before 2010, the unit must be replaced. Old units used R-22 refrigerant, which is toxic and harmful to the ozone layer, and was banned in the US on January 1, 2020. The tech won’t bother to fix the leak because they can’t get R-22 to refill the unit, so replacing the unit with a newer model is your only option. - An issue with the compressor: The indoor unit and outdoor compressor work together to keep your house cool. The system cannot produce cold air if the compressor isn’t working correctly.
An air conditioning service will send a licensed tech to your house to diagnose and repair the problem, restoring the cold air. - Frozen evaporator coils: The evaporator coils extract heat and humidity from the air to begin the cooling process. If the coils freeze, they can’t do their job, and the unit will produce warm air. A few issues can cause the coils to freeze, such as dirty coils, a dirty air filter, a clog in the drain line, and low fan speed. Running the air conditioner when it’s too cold outside will also cause the coils to freeze.
It’s best to call an air conditioning service immediately to thaw the coils and determine why they froze to prevent this from happening in the future.
Air conditioning is essential to keep your home cool, so it’s best to call an air conditioning service when the unit fails to produce cold air.
#5 Strange, Foul Odors When the Unit Runs
Your air conditioner should produce clean, odorless air, and if you smell something strange when the unit runs, it’s best to call an air conditioning service in Richardson, TX immediately. Foul smells indicate issues that can put your home and family at risk, so it’s best to make the call directly if you smell the following odors when the unit runs.
- Burning; If you smell something burning, it indicates a wiring issue, and you’ll smell the wire insulation burning. This is a serious problem because the wires can start an electrical fire, destroying your house in minutes. You should turn off the unit when you detect the smell and call an air conditioning service.
They will send a licensed tech to your house to locate the damaged wires and replace them to prevent a disaster from happening. When the job is complete, you can turn the unit back on, and your house will be cool and comfortable. - Mold: A moldy smell indicates mold somewhere in the air conditioning system, and it shouldn’t be ignored. The mold spores will circulate in the air putting your family at risk for mold-related health issues, such as allergies, skin rashes, respiratory problems, and a weakened immune system. If a family member has a chronic lung or respiratory condition, mold exposure will worsen their condition and symptoms.
The most common area for mold growth is the air ducts. The ducts are dark, and humidity will cause condensation in the ducts, creating the ideal environment for mold growth. An air conditioning service can send a tech to eliminate the mold with an antimicrobial fogger.
If the ducts are clean, the mold is in the air conditioner, which is more challenging to eliminate. The unit must be replaced if the tech cannot eliminate every spore.
Foul odors indicate serious issues that can harm your home or your family’s health, so you must call an air conditioning service immediately.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas Today
If your air conditioner is acting up and you need to call an air conditioning service, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas can help.
We’re a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area since 1988. Our techs are professionally trained and have the knowledge and skill to handle any job, big or small. We also provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you have a problem that must be addressed immediately, we’ll get a tech to your house quickly to resolve the issue.
To schedule an appointment for HVAC service, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas today.