When you feel warm air coming out of your home's vents, it's time to take a closer look at your air conditioning unit. If your AC is over ten years old, it may be time to start looking for a new one. Air conditioners typically don't last more than a decade. These signs can help you quickly identify any potential problems and, in some cases, help you avoid replacing your HVAC unit altogether.
Maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home during the summer months requires many components to work properly. If you notice any of these 10 signs, it's best to contact a professional HVAC technician. Trying to do the repairs yourself can lead to unnecessary costs if something goes wrong. Plus, a poorly maintained air conditioner can cause allergies and asthma.
This can happen if the air conditioner starts to accumulate dust, debris, and allergens such as mold, pollen, and dust mites. It's worth noting that allergies affect around 50 million people in the U. S., while 24 million suffer from asthma. You can check the outdoor unit of the air conditioner for any obstructions that might be preventing the fan from operating, such as dirt or metal debris.
If your air conditioner only works for short periods before it shuts off or doesn't turn on at all, this could be a sign that the thermostat isn't working correctly. Unfortunately, you may need an air conditioner repair service without even realizing it, as a broken air conditioner isn't always something that just won't work. If your unit has needed repair service three or four times over a few months, it may be time to buy a new one and forget about doing any more repairs. In general, proper care and maintenance are essential for ensuring that your air conditioning unit runs smoothly without any issues.
Another indication that your air conditioning system needs to be replaced or repaired is an energy bill that increases rapidly without additional use. If your air conditioner operates for short periods of time before turning off on its own or if it doesn't turn on completely, this could mean that the thermostat isn't accurately detecting whether the system is working or not. All electronic devices, including air conditioning units, will malfunction or break down at some point in their lifespan. An outdoor air conditioner that won't turn on is likely experiencing a fan or condenser malfunction.
You can avoid expensive repair services by identifying small problems before they become big ones. If you start to notice some humidity inside your home while the air conditioner is running, this could mean that the unit needs to be serviced. To fix this problem, contact a professional services company to inspect and repair the issue or you can manually clean or replace the air conditioner filter to improve airflow. Dust and debris can re-enter the air and mix with the cold air produced by the AC.
