Know the signs
In a perfect world, all our appliances wouldn’t break. They’d run smoothly for as long as you needed them and wouldn’t cause you any trouble. The reality is, these hard-working pieces of machinery do need some attention and maintenance. If you neglect their repair needs for too long, they can lose their effectiveness, or worse, break down. Before you head to Big Creek Greenway or Warbington Farms to enjoy the outdoors, look and a listen to some of the signs that your air conditioner might be failing.
Weird noises
Is that quiet hum from your air conditioner not so quiet anymore? If you hear any unusual sounds coming from your cooling system, it may be indicative of a current or near future problem. Any grinding, squealing, thumping, or other weird noises should be looked at by a professional air conditioner serviceman as soon as possible. Any of these noises could be getting damaged further every time they’re in use. This will quickly turn a minor problem into a major one that may require expensive repairs or an AC replacement. No one wants to spend a hot summer afternoon shopping at a wholesale air conditioner or home improvement store.
Leakage
If there’s any liquid seeping out in locations that aren’t intended for evaporation or draining, you may have a serious problem at hand. The refrigerant, Freon, could be leaking from a broken pipe or gasket. This is considered a very hazardous material and should be looked at by a professional air conditioner repairman.
Not cold
If the air coming out of your vents is not as cold as it used to be, you could have a problem related to the one above. The likely culprit is a refrigerant leak, and it will require a professional to come out and repair it. Time is of the essence for this issue, because the more refrigerant that you lose, the more that you will have to replace. This stuff is not cheap, so it’s best to get your air conditioner system looked at as soon as possible.
Not blowing air
Your air conditioner cycles on, but there’s little to no air coming from your vents. What gives? The two likely sources of this problem vary in severity. The first being a clogged air filter, or clogged vents. These are relatively easy to fix, and shouldn’t take more than an hour or two. If this was not the source of the low airflow, the problem could be a failing compressor. This is a much costlier repair, and may warrant a full-blown AC replacement. Call an HVAC specialist if you have any questions about the lack of airflow from your air conditioner.