5 Signs You Need AC Repair

When it is hotter than normal outside and your air conditioner is struggling, the question is whether it is just the weather or a sign of something wrong. Air conditioners tend to announce problems before they fail. Here are five signs it is time for a professional inspection.

• Poor cooling performance
• Frequent cycling or trouble starting
• Bad smells from the system
• Unusual noises
• Higher energy bills

1. Poor cooling performance

If the air is weak or warm, or some rooms never cool down, look at the likely causes in order:

• A dirty air filter, which should be changed every 1 to 3 months during heavy use
• Blocked or leaky ducts, which show up as uneven cooling and warm rooms
• Dirty condenser coils that cannot release heat
• Low refrigerant, shown by warm air from the vents or ice on the refrigerant lines
• An old or undersized system, especially one over 10 to 15 years old or one serving a house that has been added onto

Filters are the easy part. Coil cleaning and refrigerant work need a technician, and refrigerant that is low means there is a leak to find.

2. Short cycling or trouble starting

A system that will not start, or that keeps shutting off and restarting, has a reason. A clogged filter can cause overheating and shutdown. A dead thermostat battery or a thermostat fault can interrupt operation. A frozen evaporator coil, which can come from poor airflow, low refrigerant or setting the thermostat very low for long periods, can make the system start and stop as the ice forms and thaws. Electrical parts such as capacitors, sensors and wiring can also fail, and a tripped breaker can keep the system from starting. Fault tracing on electrical components is a job for a professional.

3. Bad smells

Odors from an air conditioner are worth tracking down:

• Musty smells often come from drain lines clogged with algae, mildew or debris, which can back up and cause water damage
• Burning or electrical smells can point to a failing motor or overheated wiring, so shut the system off
• Mold or mildew on coils and ducts, or dead pests and their nests in the system, need prompt cleaning

If using a wet-dry vacuum on the drain line does not clear it, professional cleaning or repair may be needed.

4. Unusual noises and 5. Higher bills

Rattling, banging and clanking point to loose or broken parts, from small hardware to the fan or motor assembly. Rattling and knocking from the outdoor unit may only be debris in the fan, which you can often see by looking at the unit with the power off. Loud, persistent buzzing or screeching is a failing motor: turn the unit off and schedule an inspection promptly, since running it can cause further damage.

Higher energy bills are the quieter warning. Air conditioners lose efficiency with age, and a dirty filter, dirty coils, low refrigerant and worn, poorly lubricated parts force the system to run longer and harder. A newer unit with a higher SEER rating can deliver substantial savings and better comfort, and routine spring maintenance helps whatever you have run more efficiently.

One habit helps with all five signs: pay attention to how the system sounds and feels on a normal day. Most people notice a change in airflow, a new vibration or a slightly longer run time long before anything fails. Writing down the date you first noticed it gives a technician something concrete to work from, and it often shortens the diagnosis.

Act before the hottest week

Yakima summers can bring long runs of triple-digit days, and that is when marginal systems fail. Having a technician look at your air conditioner in spring or at the first sign of trouble gives you time to repair or plan a replacement without a scramble.

ACT Heat & Air repairs and services all makes and models of air conditioners and heat pumps for homes and businesses in Yakima, Union Gap, Ellensburg, Prosser, Kennewick, Richland and Pasco. Call (509) 388-2997 to schedule an inspection. For a system that quits in the middle of a heat wave, we offer 24 hour emergency service.