As warm weather settles in, one will rely more often on the home’s air conditioner to keep your family cool. Like any machine, too much strain on an AC system can cause it to break down or malfunction and provide substandard cooling.
As the summer starts and one makes more requests for the air conditioning system, it’s a good idea to know the signs that one needs to call us for air conditioning repair in Fairfax, VA. The sooner one gets a problem addressed, the better it is for the AC as a whole.
The 6 Top Warnings of an AC in Distress
- Loud or unusual noises: An air conditioning system when running normally makes the same level of noise as two people talking at a conversational volume. When this “white noise” starts to get louder, or if odd sounds (clanging, hissing, grinding, shrieking) begin to intrude, shut off the AC and call for technicians to investigate the possible problem.
- Rapidly rising electrical costs: If one has had the same AC for a few summers, one knows what to expect on the monthly electric bills. When the first bills arrive after one starts using the AC again, compare them to the previous years’ bills. If one is hit with a high-cost surprise (and it’s not due to a price hike for electricity), that’s a flashing warning that the AC may have a hidden malfunction forcing it to work harder than it should.
- Short-cycling: This is when an air conditioner gets into a rapid start-stop pattern. Instead of running for at least 15 minutes to complete the cooling cycle, the AC shuts down early, then comes back on again, repeat. Short-cycling is bad news on its own because it causes the air conditioner to drain excess amounts of power and increases work strain. But the cause of the short-cycling could be even worse, and one will want pros to find out what it is.
- Uneven cooling: When working optimally, the AC should be able to provide cooling throughout the house. Not every room will be the same temperature, but one can expect general comfort. When the cooling becomes uneven, with some rooms too hot and maybe a few too cold, the AC needs professionals to check on it.
- Ice on the evaporator coil: Unfortunately, many people mistakenly assume that ice on an evaporator coil is no big deal. It’s supposed to happen. But this isn’t true. Ice should never appear on an AC, and when it’s on the evaporator coil, it could mean the air conditioner is losing refrigerant—a major malfunction that will eventually cause the AC to break down. Don’t try to scrape off the ice: call professionals instead.
- A rise in indoor humidity: An AC is not a dehumidifier, but it does have an effect on humidity levels and the air circulation using the blower fans helps to prevent muggy air. If one detects a rise in humidity in the home, it’s often an early warning the air conditioner is losing its cooling capacity or the blower is malfunctioning.
