When it comes to your air conditioner, it’s often easy to sense when something is amiss. You could have issues with your air conditioner coils, refrigerant, or air filter. All of these can lead to problems with energy efficiency. If you’re tired of tinkering with the thermostat and you don’t know if your AC unit is operating at peak performance, there are a few telltale signs to look for.
From evaporate coil moisture buildup to refrigerant leaks and outdated air filters, here’s what you need to know about your air conditioner.
Your air conditioner only produces warm air.
Unless you’re wearing the best underwear for your body type, being too warm when your air conditioner runs is a definite problem. This is often caused by evaporate coil leaks, refrigerant problems, airflow blockage, and even a dirty air filter. If your air conditioner is pushing warm air throughout your home, there may be mechanical issues in your AC system. If you spot air conditioning issues like this, it’s a good idea to reach out to a technician. Every homeowner should have easy access to a specialist that can assist with a home AC unit. The technician can check different parts of your HVAC system regularly. This includes vents, registers, your refrigerant line, and compressor.
A good technician can spot airflow problems, install a new filter, check for low refrigerant levels, and test your blower fan. It’s a good way to prevent humidity build-up and excess condensation. It also helps your HVAC function properly and produces enough air to your house. Luckily, this is easy to test. Find the nearest duct and see whether cold air or hot air comes out. Make sure the duct is open all the way, or you won’t get an accurate assessment.
The cycles are too frequent.
While your air conditioner should cycle regularly to produce more cold air, it shouldn’t turn on and off dozens of times each day. This goes for the hotter summer months, too. If you notice that your air conditioner keeps cycling, you may have a problem. There could be debris in one of your ducts, a faulty fan or evaporator coil, or problems with your filter. Unless you want to spend all summer wandering around in your underwear, this requires help from professionals. The first thing a specialist will do is test your unit. They can spot low refrigerant in an outdoor unit, problems with your blower motor that inhibits airflow, and other common causes of AC issues.
If you’re concerned about good airflow throughout your house, the best way to prevent problems is regular maintenance. A common reason some homes don’t see proper airflow is due to negligence. Dirty coils in an outdoor unit, a faulty blower motor, and a frozen air conditioner are all harmful to your system. A repair service can check coolant levels, your refrigerant levels, and recommend upkeep strategies.
Something doesn’t smell right.
Believe it or not, but bad odors are signs of clogs, freon leaks, and other issues that an HVAC technician can diagnose. When your air conditioner keeps freezing up, this can cause odors too. If your airflow smells a bit off, there may be issues with your unit. While this typically isn’t an emergency, it’s still a good idea to reach out to an HVAC technician to get a professional opinion. Poor airflow leads to humid air, which is outside of an air conditioner’s normal operation. Plus, poor airflow can negatively impact the health of the average person.
While there are other common AC issues, these are some of the most prevalent. Ventilation malfunctions aren’t uncommon, even in some newer units. Now that you know what to look for, you can tackle these issues head-on.
