Is this you?
Your house a/c system is a couple of years old, and you understand it's not going to last permanently. But you have actually done your homework, and do exactly what you can to extend its life: you change the filters regularly, inspect that the condenser is draining pipes appropriately, and turn the system off and provide it a rest when you leave for a couple of days.
Today, you're seeing it's simply not cooling in addition to it used to, or it's noisy or cycling on and off a terrible lot. Is it in trouble?
Here are three clues that your cooling system might be on its last legs and require professional assistance from an AC Repair Company.
CLUE # 1: ELECTRICITY (2 things to keep in mind here).
You understand electrical energy expenses are increasing, today that you're running your a/c-- your bills have actually all of a sudden shot through the roof! That's a clue that your ac system is running longer to keep a regular temperature in your house. Is it the weather (are you experiencing record-breaking high temperatures outside?) or is it your A/C? If your area is not experiencing an uncommon heat wave, and your electrical energy costs (a glance at your expense ought to expose this) haven't gone way up, opportunities are that there's the issue your air conditioning service technician need to have a look at.
Another electrical hint is that the breaker to your a/c system flips (resets) regularly. An overworked cooling compressor could be the cause, and that's another clue to call the experts.
Clue# 2: SOUND.
Wow! Exactly what's that noise? A normally-operating cooling system is fairly quiet, however, if you get used to stating "oh, that's just the cooling beginning," you may have trouble. Here are the five most typical air-conditioning-related noises and what they indicate:.
Squealing-- This is most likely either a slipping-- or worn out-- belt, or it's an indication the compressor bearings are failing. If you're handy, you might be able to handle changing the belt yourself, but the bearings may need a professional.
Banging-- If you hear loud thumps or rattling when you switch on your ac system-- turn it off! Sounds like that mean some part has actually come loose-- like the fan or motor installs-- and it has to be fixed or changed before it comes apart or breaks entirely.
Thwap-thwap-thwap-thwap-thwap-- That quick thwapping sound may recognize if you ever stuck a playing card on your bike wheel spoke as a kid. That sound means something's hitting the fan blades, and while it may not be a vital part that's come loose, even a little loose debris hitting the fan can trigger the motor to wear out before its time.
Repeated clicking-- Your a/c system clicks when it switches on, which's a normal noise. When you hear it click repeatedly, that's a clue that something's incorrect. It could be a defective relay, or a control system might triggering the relay to timeout and fail.
Outdoors noises-- When your outside compressor kicks on, the fan blade should not rattle when it turns. Neither ought to it scream. A little screech when the motor starts is typical, however, a loud scream is not-- and the louder the scream, the worse the issue. This is definitely a job for experts.
CLUE # 3: WARM AIR (obviously!).
If your thermostat is working effectively, and your cooling unit appears to be running as it should, other than that the air originating from the vents is warm instead of cold, you're taking a look at an issue with the compressor-- which's a task for the specialists. The compressor is exactly what distributes the refrigerant throughout the system, and if the refrigerant isn't distributing appropriately, the air will certainly not get cool.
A/c systems can stop working at any age, so it's a great idea to know ways to recognize problems early. It's far better to take on a small issue as soon as it appears because small issues can grow to be big ones real quick.
Simply put, do not lose your cool-- just call your air conditioning professionals. They have the tools, the parts, and the know-how to keep you in the cool.
