It won’t be long before summer will be knocking on everyone’s doors, bringing with it all of its hot humid air to swarm us all, causing our homes to be unbearably hot and humid. It’s vital that you have your heating, air conditioning, and plumbing checked yearly to make sure everything is running smoothly.
Over time your air conditioner can experience a lot of wear and tear from using it for a long period of time over the years which can ultimately cause your air conditioning system to completely break down if it’s not maintained year-round.
If you’ve ever had an air conditioner problem that caused you to go without the cold air we all know and love during the scorching heat of the summer then you definitely understand the importance to keep up with the maintenance of your AC unit.
The easiest way to be prepared for your air conditioner breaking down is by staying on top of maintenance every year which includes having a professional technician come out and inspect your air conditioning system each year to ensure there aren’t any minor problems that need to be attended to before they become bigger problems causing you to have to replace your entire unit.
Most homeowners, typically wait until it’s too late so that minor issue you noticed last year and neglected to have inspected ends up becoming an expensive investment into a new air conditioning system.
There are some variations that you can usually notice the signs when something is wrong and they include the following:
# Insulation values
# Air conditioner placement
# Actual system
# Ductwork
# Equipment specifications
The Signs Your Air Conditioner Is Broken
1. Is it warm in your house while your air conditioner is running?
The top most common sign that there’s a problem with your air conditioning system is if it isn’t working properly meaning it’s not able to efficiently cool down your home like it normally does. If you suspect there is an issue, you should first check your supply vents. The air coming out of the supply vents should be cold if your air conditioning system is running.
If you happen to notice that the air is substantially warmer than it should be, then there is definitely a bigger problem that’s happening within your air conditioning system. If the air coming out of your supply vents is considerably warmer than normal you should contact a professional right away to eradicate the problem.
2. Is there any air coming through the supply vents?
If you notice that there is no air coming out of the supply vents at all while your air conditioner system is running then this could indicate that your evaporator coils are frozen. Having a frozen coil usually means there’s an issue with the overall airflow. Meaning there could be restrictions that could be caused by a dirty filter or there’s an obstruction in the return air ductwork.
However, a frozen coil and or blocked supply vents could also indicate that your air conditioning system is low on refrigerant. However, it will be hard to pinpoint the exact problem without further investigation. Call a professional to come out and inspect your AC unit.
3. Did you replace your air conditioner's air filter?
One other easy solution to keep your air conditioning system running smoothly and efficiently is by changing or cleaning your air conditioner's air filters. A dirty air filter can cause a number of problems. A filter is responsible for keeping debris, dust, germs, and other contaminants from circulating throughout your system and ultimately into your home.
However, if you neglect to change your air filters on a regular basis, they could potentially become very clogged. And a blocked air filter will essentially prevent the airflow from being sufficient enough to blow through your system and throughout your home. And if you don’t change them it can cause the system to strain to operate causing more wear and tear.
It’s recommended that you change your air filter every 1-3 months. Most homeowners wait longer than that and that can cause the air quality to suffer as well allowing pollutants to circulate throughout your home.
4. Does your air conditioner make weird noises?
If your air conditioning system is making weird noises or is a lot louder than usual, it's most likely that something is definitely wrong. There are a number of noises that homeowners have reported when they suspected their air conditioner was breaking down. Some of those noises include the following:
# A screaming-like noise
# Clicking, banging, or knocking noises
# Gurgling or bubbling noises
# Screeching noises
Every single one of the noises mentioned above indicates that there is an issue with your unit. You may need to have a certified technician come out and inspect your air conditioning system to figure out what the problem is.
