Living in a property with an HVAC unit is a luxury. Not only can you raise the internal temperature in winter, but also lower it in the summer. This action is something that many people across the world, particularly in Europe, can’t do. So when you are heading towards an air conditioner breakdown, you must act.
These breakdowns happen because air conditioning units are complicated pieces of machinery. And they don’t always work according to plan. Eventually, your home heat and a/c system will break down–like any piece of mechanical equipment. And when they do, it can wind up costing you.
5 Signs You Might Be in for an Air Conditioner Breakdown
So how can you tell your AC is on its way out or needs repairs? Take a look at the following:
1 – Your Heating Bills Have Gone Up
Higher heating bills are among the first signs that your air conditioning unit is about to break down. As AC components wear out, the entire unit becomes less efficient. The system has to work much harder than before to get the same result. And that requires more energy. Eventually, ACs can lose around half of their efficiency, requiring double the power as before.
2 – You Smell Strange Odors
AC units should be odorless during regular operation. All of the smelly chemicals that make them work should remain sealed in their pipes. And nothing should burn.
If you smell something, it could be any number of problems. The leading cause of bad smells is dust and bacteria in ducts. You should find out how often to change filters for your particular system to prevent this from happening in the future.
If you don’t change them regularly enough, you will ultimately damage your AC. Small particles will get in and damage the internal components – not what you want.
3 – You Keep Hearing Strange Noises
AC units should be mostly silent except for the humming of the fan. But they can make strange noises as they start to break down.
Buzzing noises usually indicate problems with fan bearings. These are easy to fix and shouldn’t cause you much concern. Trickling noises are more challenging to resolve because they usually mean a problem with the cooling loop. In this case, you may have to replace the entire unit.
4 – You Notice Reduced Airflow
Air conditioning units should have no trouble cooling entire rooms and doing it quickly. Modern ACs are exceptionally efficient and make their effects felt rapidly when they work correctly.
However, when air conditioning units are about to breakdown, they reduce airflow. And your rooms feel much warmer than they used to twenty minutes after switching on your system.
Again, the main reason for reduced airflow is usually a problem with filters. If you haven’t replaced them in a while, swap your old ones out for new ones and try your system again. It should hopefully deal with the problem.
If it doesn’t, then it suggests either an issue with the cooling loop or the fan.
5 – You Have To Call the Technician to Repair Your System Regularly
ACs are a little bit like cars. At first, it makes economic sense to repair them and keep them on the road. But over time, things start to break down to the point where it’s no longer worth it. And that’s when the real problems can start. Follow our tips for hiring any home contractor to ensure the right person for the job.
The Bottom Line on Preventing Air Conditioner Breakdown
The loss of use of your HVAC unit is an inconvenience during any season of the year. But in the peak heating or cooling seasons, then your situation can become uncomfortable quickly. Take these preventative measures to ensure a healthy unit.