Comparatively speaking, our summers are fairly mild in our part of the country. Still though, heat is relative to what we’re used to—so when an air conditioner breaks down on an 80°F+ day, we have a right to complain! Of course, we don’t ever want you to reach that point, if we can help it. The best way to prevent any problems with your air conditioner is by scheduling annual maintenance with a professional—or biannual maintenance if you have a year-round heat pump.
But even with maintenance, repair needs can still crop up. Ignoring or delaying them can only cause more harm to your AC system. Some good news in all of this is that most AC repair issues do give out signs and symptoms well before they cause your system to break down entirely. While we would never recommend a homeowner formally diagnosing or trying to repair a faulty AC by themselves, you can certainly spot the signs that you need air conditioning repair, and give us a call from there.
The Most Common Signs You need AC Repair
We want to start by reiterating that you should not attempt cooling system repairs on your own. Air conditioners contain components that become dangerous or hazardous in the wrong hands. We’re talking about things such as refrigerant, which actually requires proper licensing to manage. That aside, here are some of the most common indicators that you’re in need of air conditioning repair:
- Low Airflow: Air that isn’t moving through your home’s vents with the speed you’d expect can be a big issue. It typically means that cold air is trapped within the system, which can lead to a domino effect of other problems such as the coils freezing over. Even if this doesn’t occur, the cause of the low airflow needs to be found as your air conditioner will work harder than it needs to and wear down faster when its cooling output isn’t adequate.
- Short-Cycling: This is the process used to describe when an air conditioner turns on and shuts off numerous times an hour without running very long in the interim. Cooling systems use the most energy turning and turning off, rather than while they’re simply running. This is why you want yours to run at least 15 minutes at a time. Otherwise, it’s typically the sign that something is amiss. If this is happening in a brand new system, then your air conditioner either wasn’t sized correctly or was improperly installed. If it’s an older system, there could be a number of factors at play. The best thing you can do for your air conditioner and its functionality is to give our team a call.
- Strange Noises: This can include anything from humming or moaning to buzzing, clanging, or really anything that doesn’t match the normal noises you hear coming from your AC system as it runs. These sounds usually start and stop in time with the starting and stopping of the air conditioner itself, so keep your ears alert!
- Higher Energy Bills: Sometimes, a problem with an air conditioner won’t show obvious signs like the above-mentioned indicators. But many times, AC problems can be translated into excess energy being consumed. If this is the case, you’ll probably notice the problem by spotting an unexpected spike in your monthly energy bills. Though there will always be some difference, there shouldn’t be a huge discrepancy between your current bills and what you paid at the same time last year, or what you’re paying in comparison to your neighbors.
Call the friendly staff at Boehmer Heating & Cooling for exceptional customer service and reliable air conditioning repair in Upper St. Clair, PA!