Imagine you’re in this scenario: you are sitting in your home, relaxing. It’s about 85°F outdoors, but that’s fine! Your AC is blasting away, providing your whole home with the chilled air that makes you feel perfectly comfortable. Until, suddenly, you don’t feel that cold air anymore.
You rush over to the thermostat–the settings seem to be correct… the thermostat seems to be working okay.
So you check the circuit breaker next–did it trip? No, it’s fine. So, what’s happening?
You decide to call for emergency repairs. It’s going to take a bit though because everybody is calling for AC repairs right now. All of the sudden, your nice, relaxing afternoon turned into a frustrating and hot one.
Below, we’re going to dive into 1–how this might be prevented to begin with and, 2–what signs you should watch out for that your AC is struggling, before it just stops working altogether. Read on!
Can AC Repairs Be Prevented?
Not always–after all, your air conditioner is a huge piece of equipment that will suffer from wear and tear just like any other appliance. But most large, emergency repairs can be prevented, through professional and regular maintenance.
At least once a year, twice if you have a heat pump, your system should be professionally inspected, cleaned, and components adjusted to ensure it’s working as efficiently and effectively as possible. This careful maintenance can help you avoid up to 85% of the repair needs your AC may ever have.
The Signs You Need Repair
As we alluded to above, not all repair needs are immediately obvious. They can start off subtle. But ignoring them can allow them to grow worse, until you do have a cooling system emergency on your hands. Here are 4 signs your AC is struggling:
- Reduced Airflow: This can be caused by a few different issues, such as a clogged air filter or damaged ductwork. A clogged air filter you can “fix” on your own, by replacing it every 1-3 months. Damaged ductwork will require a call to our professionals.
- Low Cooling Power: What if the airflow is fine coming through your vents, but you notice that the temperature of the air doesn’t seem to be as cool as it should be? This can be a sign that you have a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant is a vital component of your air conditioner, making the cooling process actually possible.
- Short-Cycling: Short-Cycling is the name given to the process where your air conditioner cycles on and off in rapid succession instead of going through regular cycles like it’s supposed to. Not only is this the symptom of a problem, but it can also cause further problems.
- Weird Noises: This can be pretty much anything outside of the normal day-to-day sounds you hear your air conditioner make, like clanging, banging, screeching, squealing, etc. Oftentimes, odd noises are indicative of nothing but natural wear and tear. But addressing it sooner rather than later will reduce the chances of that leading to a catastrophic AC failure.
JD’s Prompt Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning is your trusted resource for AC repair in Lubbock, TX. Contact us today!