Common Signs Your AC Needs to Be Repaired
This is a writing sample from Scripted writer Tammy Szczepanik
It’s always frustrating to have your air conditioner slow down or break down altogether, especially due to serious issues such as low refrigerant, a vibrating unit, tripped breakers, and faulty thermostats.
Fortunately, you can avoid an uncomfortable environment, higher bills, and last-minute repairs by staying on top of maintenance, and part of maintaining your AC is learning the signs that your unit needs to be repaired.
1. There's Little-to-No Airflow
You may notice little-to-no airflow when you turn on your air conditioner, which makes it nearly impossible to cool your home without the unit working overtime. The culprit may be a failed compressor, clogged air filters, or blocked air ducts.
2. The AC is Blowing Warm Air
Another issue is warm air coming out of the air conditioner vents. This could be a sign of low refrigerant, a faulty compressor, a clogged condensate line, or air duct problems. Additionally, the issue may be caused by something blocking the airflow or the outdoor unit.
3. You Notice Uneven Cooling
Certain areas of your home may feel cooler than others, even if your home has a central air system rather than a window or portable unit. The issue could be a result of insufficient insulation in your home, or these signs may indicate problems such as clogged filters, blocked vents, or ductwork leaks.
4. Your AC System Has Tripped Breakers
Frequently resetting the air conditioner's breaker when it’s running is a telltale sign of an electrical issue. You should especially take this issue seriously if you smell burning near or inside the unit. Failure to address this problem poses a fire hazard and leads to unsafe living conditions.
5. Dust Circulates Through Your Home
Dust blowing out of your vents means dust and debris have accumulated in the system's ductwork. Failure to remove the dust and debris can lead to a clogged vent that impacts your airflow and indoor air quality. This results in dander circulating and causing health issues such as allergies and asthma attacks.
6. You Notice Unpleasant Odors
Your air conditioner should never give off an unpleasant odor, such as mold and mildew, burning and fumes, rotten eggs, or chemicals. If you need to hold your nose when turning the air conditioner on, you may need to have your unit inspected for dirty coils, vent and ductwork issues, mold growth, or electrical problems before the issue becomes worse.
7. Your Unit Makes Unusual Noises
It’s not uncommon to hear a little noise when the AC is running, but you shouldn’t hear loud, unusual, or excessive noises. Unfortunately, different noises can mean different problems, and the potential issues include loose fan blades, a refrigerant leak, and a bad compressor. Therefore, it is vital to listen for squealing, grinding, clanging, scraping, bubbling, or gurgling.
8. The AC Unit is Vibrating or Rattling
Your air conditioner unit isn’t supposed to vibrate or rattle. If you notice the unit vibrating, this could be a sign of a malfunctioning compressor, unbalanced motor fan blades, or loose components. A rattling unit may be caused by a misaligned fan blade, a damaged motor, or loose screws. Both vibrating and rattling may be caused by an electrical or mechanical issue or debris stuck inside the outdoor unit.
9. The System's Thermostat is Faulty
The thermostat is the center of your air conditioner because it controls the air and overall system, so a faulty thermostat leads to big problems for your unit. Signs of thermostat issues include less cool air, running in short cycles, and the unit not turning on at all.
10. Noticeable Leaks Around The Unit
The last thing you want to find is a pool of water around your AC unit. In a mild case, the issue could be a blocked or broken condensation drain line. It could also mean the water inside the unit has frozen and melted. However, the cause may be a refrigerant leak, and this is a serious case because Freon is poisonous.
11. Humidity Remains Inside Your Home
You never want to take your unit's inability to remove humidity lightly. The humidity could encourage mold growth inside your home, which leads to serious health issues such as allergies, asthma attacks, brain fog, and problems focusing.
12. The Fan in the Outdoor Unit is Malfunctioning
The fan inside your outdoor central air unit should be spinning when the unit is running. This way, the unit can blow the hot air outside your home. Failure to spin results in an overheated AC compressor, which can lead to a damaged unit altogether.
13. Your AC Unit is Short-Cycling
A unit that turns on, starts a cooling cycle, and turns off several minutes later is short-cycling. Short cycling can lead to a warm house, increased energy bills, and a damaged air conditioner. It may be caused by clogged filters, frozen evaporator coils, or a low refrigerant charge.
14. Air Conditioner is Overheating
There are many issues that lead to your air conditioner overheating, including an overloaded air filter, frozen evaporator coils, and high voltage. Your air conditioner overheats if it needs to work harder to cool your home, and overheating your system may result in higher energy bills and a broken air conditioner unit.
15. Your Energy Bills are Skyrocketing
A rise in your energy bills but not your air conditioner usage is a common sign your system is working harder than usual. A decline in your system may be caused by many problems, such as a broken thermostat switch, a dirty air filter, low refrigerant, leaky ductwork, or failing components.
16. The Unit has Frequent Issues
There's a difference between an occasional issue and issues that occur several times a month. Recurring issues mean there's more going on with your AC system than you can repair on your own. A professional needs to evaluate your system and help you determine the next steps, such as a repair or full replacement.
17. The System Doesn't Turn On
A unit that no longer turns on is the most obvious sign of a damaged air conditioner. It may be caused by problems such as a broken thermostat, a full drain pan, or faulty components, but you can have the issue taken care of if you act quickly.
18. The End of the Unit's Lifespan is Nearing
The issue may be caused by aging rather than faulty components or a lack of maintenance. If you have had your air conditioner for over 10 years and notice more issues and repairs than usual, your air conditioner may be nearing the end of its lifespan.
It’s important to have these issues identified and repaired before they lead to a broken air conditioner unit. What may start as a minor issue could turn into a major repair, increased bills, and health or safety concerns if left untreated.
When you're ready to call a professional to inspect or repair your air conditioner system, contact your local HVAC company to discuss the problem.
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