Spring is here, and summer is not far behind. As the temperatures heat up, you want to make sure that your air conditioner is in the best condition for keeping your home cool all year long. The problem is that AC repairs can sneak up and surprise you, impacting your air conditioner’s ability to cool.
The good news is, you can stay ahead of air conditioning repair by paying attention to the subtle signs that something is wrong. AC repairs don’t really just pop up overnight without any warning signs. The key is to know what to look for and to give us a call right away when you notice that something is wrong.
1. Lack of Cooling
If your AC is blowing out lukewarm air, that’s a sign that it’s not working as it should. When you hold your hand up to any air vent in your house, the air should feel cold. If you feel lukewarm air blowing out while your AC is on, you may be low on refrigerant, or something else is wrong with your AC.
You want to check multiple air vents and not just one. It’s possible that you have an airflow problem if only one air vent is blowing lukewarm air. This can indicate that something is wrong with your ductwork and cool air is not reaching one zone of your home. But if lukewarm air is coming out of all of your air vents, that means you have a bigger problem.
2. Bad Odors
Homes can smell bad for a variety of reasons. But if the air blowing out of your air vents is the cause, that means something is wrong inside your AC system. If the smell is musty, mold and mildew may be to blame. If it smells like something is burning, then you may have an electrical problem. Both of these issues pose hazards to your family and need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
3. Loud Sounds
Your AC should never make loud or surprising sounds. Any sound that alarms you means that something is wrong. Your AC may make a gentle humming sound and you may hear air blowing through the vents. Sometimes those vents may even rattle when temperatures are changing. But even these sounds can become a problem. If you hear any otherwise normal sounds that increase in loudness or frequency, you need to get the AC checked out.
4. Lots of Dust
If you’re having to wipe down surfaces in your home more frequently because they’re getting dusty, your AC is possibly to blame. You may be tempted to think that you’re bringing in more dirt from outdoors, but it’s actually your AC blowing out more particles through the air vents.
Over time, dust and dirt can get into the system and begin to recirculate through the air. The good news is, the solution could be as simple as making sure you change the air filter regularly.
5. AC Age
You also need to take your air conditioner’s age into consideration. You can expect your AC to last for 10-15 years. But once you hit that 10-year mark, there’s a greater chance that you will need repairs. During this period of time, you need to pay closer attention to unusual sounds, and potential problems with your air conditioner.
Contact Kennihan Plumbing & Heating, Inc. today to schedule an appointment with our professionals. We treat your home like it’s our grandma’s home.