Wondering if your air conditioning system needs to be repaired? Waiting too long to call your HVAC technician could put your home and your family in harm's way, damage your cooling system, or at the very least, leave you uncomfortable. If you notice any of the following signs, consider them red flags telling you it's time for a repair!
This blog post is part of Pacific's Heating and Cooling Series.
Strange Noises
Abnormal noises are noticeable and often what drive customers to call us for help. If your air conditioner sounds strange to you while it’s running, it probably isn’t your imagination. If something is rattling, buzzing, or banging around, it likely needs a mechanical repair. Something could be loose or rusting and need to be tightened, lubricated, or replaced, or you might need a new fan motor or blade. Call a professional to inspect your system and make any necessary repairs before more serious damage is done.
Quality of Airflow Changes
If your air conditioner seems to be circulating warm air, the coolant level may need to be checked and adjusted, or the refrigerant lines may need to be insulated. If the air isn’t blowing as powerfully as it should be from the vents into your living space, one of your system’s blower fans may not be working properly. Other reasons for these types of problems could include plants or debris blocking the airflow near the outdoor condenser unit or dirty air filters. An HVAC technician can fix any of these problems for you. Also make sure your vents are all open throughout your home and nothing is blocking or covering them to prevent the air from reaching you.
Pooling or Dripping Water
Inspect your outdoor AC unit. Is water pooling around it? If the drain line is clogged or disconnected, water can leak and build up around the unit. If water is dripping from the condenser or coolant is leaking, there could be a crack or other serious issue that needs fixing. Call a professional to repair your unit before the moisture causes it to rust and corrode.
Weird Smells
If you turn on your air conditioner and smell something unpleasant, something's wrong. The solution could be as simple as changing a dirty air filter; check your filter and change it if necessary. During the cooling season, you should change your filter as often as every month to keep your indoor air clean and fresh. On the other hand, this could be a much more serious issue. Your AC could overheat if it’s getting old and reaching the end of its life. If you smell something burning, it's possible your AC could fail at any time.
System Frequently Cycles On and Off
If your system seems like it’s working harder than normal and it cycles on and off frequently, it probably needs to be cleaned. Ask a technician to check your thermostat to make sure it’s in a good location; if it’s located in a region of your home that receives direct sunlight or is too near an appliance that produces heat, it could be reading the indoor temperature incorrectly. If it’s in a good location, the condenser, fan, and evaporator likely need cleaning; these tasks are usually performed during an annual AC tuneup. It’s best to get this done at the beginning of the cooling season so your system will work well all summer long.
If you’ve run into any of these common problems and need air conditioner repair in or around the Aspen area, call Pacific. We provide various heating and cooling services for our customers. We’ll help you get your HVAC equipment tuned up so it’s ready to go and safe to use throughout the season.
