Spring is in full swing, and the first day of summer will be here before you know it!
At this point in the season, you’ve probably already turned your air conditioner on and have been enjoying a cool and comfortable home. We want to help you keep it that way, and in this post, we’re going to discuss five common causes of air conditioner breakdowns every homeowner should know about.
If you experience any of these issues, contact Quality Air Experts for fast and affordable AC repair services in Sterling and the surrounding areas. Alternatively, you can take a proactive approach and get ahead of major issues by contacting our team to schedule air conditioning maintenance. Be sure to check out the graphic at the bottom of the page for a few of the most common signs of AC trouble, too!
Saturated Filter
Changing your air conditioner’s filters on a regular basis is one of the best ways to keep your system performing at its best while also maintaining great indoor air quality. The filters need to be changed every 30 to 90 days, depending on the quality of the filters you purchase and whether you have animals or allergy-prone individuals in your home.
Fully saturated air filters restrict the flow of air, which means that your unit will have to work harder to cool your home. This also means that you’ll likely experience worse indoor air quality and higher energy bills as a result of your system working overtime.
Malfunctioning Thermostat
If you’re experiencing problems with your air conditioner, it’s always worth considering whether your thermostat is the cause. If your thermostat isn’t working properly, your system might be cycling on and off more often than is necessary or making your home feel warmer or cooler than the temperature displayed.
Thermostat malfunctions are often a blessing in disguise. Although it’s certainly not convenient to have an important element of your home break down unexpectedly, they present an opportunity to upgrade to a smart thermostat that can get to know your habits and help you save money on your monthly energy bills by working more efficiently. Many models can even be controlled via smartphone!
Dirty Coils
Your air conditioner’s condenser coils are responsible for transferring heat away from your home. As such, they’re located in the outdoor unit, which means that they’re more susceptible to dirt and debris buildup. Dirty coils cause many of the same problems noted in our section about air filters, but the most noticeable is likely to be the fact that your home will take much longer to cool.
Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant is used in conjunction with your system’s coils to transfer heat out of your home. If the system springs a leak, then you’ll likely notice that your home becomes much more humid and takes longer to cool down. In fact, the system might not be able to cool your home at all, no matter how long you let it run!
You can check for a refrigerant leak by inspecting the indoor unit and listening for a hissing sound caused by the refrigerant escaping. There may also be ice on the coils and a pool of water beneath your unit. If you aren’t sure whether or not you have a refrigerant leak on your hands, the best thing to do is to call a local HVAC company like Quality Air Experts and schedule an AC repair appointment.
Old Age
Old age isn’t a problem in and of itself, but it’s a common cause of all of the problems listed above, and many more. The older your system gets, the more issues you’re likely to have as the components wear out and need to be replaced or repaired. Condensers, fans, and other mechanical elements will all eventually need to be replaced, and you might experience everything from odd noises to strange smells and performance issues as they reach the end of their shelf life.
Routine air conditioning maintenance is a great way to discover and solve problems before they become full-blown breakdowns. It also saves you the hassle and headache of calling for AC repairs on short notice!
