You should deal with any issue effecting your air conditioner quickly and effectively no matter what problems develop. Some issues need a professional to diagnose. However, a few signs of air conditioner failure are apparent and useful when placing a call to your trusted HVAC company. Continue reading for the top signs of common AC problems.
1. Blowing Warm or Room Temperature Air
Your AC should blow cool to cold air whenever you have it set to. On some occasions, lukewarm or even warm air can come out, which is a sign of AC failure. A common cause of this issue can be a clogged air filter. Be sure to check yours, even if it is before the allotted change time. You may notice an excess of dust, dirt, or other materials clogging the filter. Your return ducts may also be clogged and need to be checked. Among the worst causes of an AC blowing hot air is a malfunctioning compressor or coolant leak.
2. Common Signs of Compressor Failure
In addition to the above, other signs of compressor failure exist. It is important to recognize these as the compressor is a major component that can be difficult to repair. A few of these signs include:
- Hard Start – When the unit stutters or shakes on startup. The event normally occurs in the outdoor unit.
- Power Failures – Does your air conditioner constantly cause the power to fail or a circuit to trip? This often occurs when the AC works to hard to compensate for a failing compressor.
- Odd Noises – Your outdoor unit will always make some noise during operation. Listen to see if it is louder than usual or is making noises it never made before.
3. Weak Air Flow
At times, your air conditioner may blow cold enough but not with enough force. Do you find yourself holding up your hand to the vents to check for air? Try checking the air filter. Again, clogging can cause the unit to not blow as hard. Check for air duct leaks. Usually, air ducts are in the attic and can be checked for leaks and taped with duct tape or professional grade sealant.
4. Higher Cooling Costs
Do you find your power bill is inexplicably going up? Your air conditioner may be experiencing an issue that is causing it to work overtime. Compare the bills from this year with the one’s from previous years. Pay attention to the kilowatt hours used, as the prices tend to vary from year to year. Some power providers even give you a breakdown of your power usage that is very helpful.
5. Unit Does Not Power On
Does your unit take forever to come on or doesn’t come on at all? Many issues can cause this. Be sure to check your fuse box, thermostat, and other issues. Feel free to click here to watch a video on the topic.
Air Conditioner Failure in Sudbury
Our techs can professionally diagnose and repair these and other signs of air conditioner failure, as well as many other HVAC and residential tasks. Our service areas include Sudbury, Chelmsford, Garson, Lively, the Valley Area and more. Contact us today to get a free, no-obligation quote on your AC repair.