In an effort to save costs, we’re often tempted to DIY any seemingly “minor” air conditioner maintenance and repairs that we think our A/C units require. As a result, we could be causing more damage to our A/C (and to our house) and ultimately increasing our actual costs. When it comes to A/C problems, it’s best to contact a Perth air conditioner maintenance and repair company with a team of reliable, experienced professional technicians to ensure the main problems are effectively and efficiently resolved.
Below are the tell-tale signs that your air conditioner is in immediate need of servicing.
The vents are blowing warm air
When the vents of your air conditioning system are blowing warm air into your home instead of cold air, the first thing you can do is to look into the thermostat and see if it is in cooling mode. The temperature setting of your air conditioning unit must be lower than the current temperature of the house.
If the home’s vents are still blowing warm air despite making the correct adjustments on the thermostat or even when set to the maximum setting, there could be a problem on the compressor or the unit’s airflow could be restricted. It is also a sign that the refrigerant is at a low level or is leaking. Get in touch with the air conditioner maintenance and repairs specialists for professional service on this matter, as it’s not something to DIY.
There is poor airflow
One of the obvious signs that your air conditioner is not running properly is that there is insufficient airflow. Poor airflow could also mean that the ducts are being clogged by something that prevents air from efficiently flowing into your home. There are a variety of reasons why this happens, including a broken motor or a blocked air filter.
Fortunately, there are some viable solutions for fixing insufficient airflow from your A/C. For one, you can opt for zoning systems, wherein you can ensure that enough airflow is brought to areas where it is needed. Another solution is to install an energy-recovery ventilator, which improves the air exchange for each time the cooling cycle restarts.
Bear in mind, however, that insufficient airflow can also be caused by something more pressing, and thus, you’ll need to call the professional A/C maintenance specialists for proper servicing.
Your electricity bills are unusually high
An inefficiently functioning air conditioner will work much harder to sustain the required room temperature set in the thermostat. This also means that it will consume more energy than usual to do its work. So if your electricity bills are much higher month after month than you expected them to be, an inefficient air conditioner could be the cause.
Performing an energy audit can help you verify whether or not it’s the A/C unit that’s consuming too much electricity.
If you find your air conditioner to be the major culprit of the unusually high electricity bill, you should contact your trusted A/C technician to perform air conditioning troubleshooting and do the necessary tune-up, repairs, and maintenance.
The cooling cycle is too frequent
Air conditioning units normally undergo a cooling cycle wherein heat changes occur due to the spreading of the coolant absorbing the heat while distributing cool air into the house. This process typically lasts for at least 15 minutes. Short-cycling happens when the cooling cycle lasts for only 10 minutes or less and is often a sign that your air conditioning unit is in dire need of attention.
During summertime, it’s expected that your A/C is turned on more frequently. But if you notice that the start-up cooling cycle is constantly turning on and off, you must have the unit checked by a professional cooling technician. This happens when the thermostat starts the cooling cycle, but the compressor is deactivated prematurely for some reason. The compressor will then be activated once again, only to be stopped abruptly once more. This stop-and-start scenario can repeat frequently and can damage the compressor. Soon, your A/C becomes defective several years before its expected lifespan.
So make sure to have your air conditioning serviced by a professional technician to resolve the issue with a quick tune-up or any technical services necessary before any damage can happen. In the worst-case scenario, frequent cooling cycles can also be a sign that it’s time to have a new air-con unit.
The unit fails to maintain a comfy humidity level
An effective A/C unit should be able to automatically moderate the level of humidity inside the home even during summer. If it fails to regulate humidity at a comfortable level, you must book the services of a dependable cooling specialist to have your A/C diagnosed as soon as possible. Most often, A/C units that fail to moderate humidity will only require re-calibration by a professional technician. In some cases, however, the most practical solution could be the purchase and/or installation of a home dehumidifier unit.
An ideal humidity level should only be around 30% to 50% relative humidity, which means that the water vapour in the air is only around 30-50% of the maximum capacity of the air to hold moisture. High humidity at home should not be overlooked. Aside from providing uncomfortable temperature levels in the room, high humidity (or relative humidity of more than 60%) provides a ripe atmosphere for mildew and moulds to grow. The high water vapour level in the air can also cause your belongings to rot due to excessive moisture.
There is water leaking or pooling
Another tell-tale signs that your A/C is not working efficiently are the pooling of water on the floor under the unit and/or an active leak from the unit. These happen due to a problem in the conditioner’s components that contain the refrigerant, which is the working liquid that cycles throughout the A/C unit’s system to cool the rooms. It is also normal for the refrigerant to produce condensation, wherein water vapour turns into liquid. However, the refrigerant and the water from the condensation are not supposed to be accumulated or leaking. A small amount of dripping is normal, though, depending on the model of the air conditioner.
You should call a professional technician immediately to have your A/C unit checked. Water leaks and pools are an unpleasant sight in and around your home. Moreover, they can cause damage to your house. They can even do structural damage to the building because the water will be seeping through the walls and cause concrete cancer as the steel reinforcing rusts. The moisture surrounding the A/C can also create a ripe environment for mould growth.
There’s an unpleasant smell from the unit
Do not delay calling for the services of professional A/C specialists when it comes to bad odours coming from the unit. A good-working air conditioner should be completely odourless. The smell can only get nastier when left unchecked. A professional technician can assess your unit to see if it will only require a quick tune-up and professional cleaning.
The unpleasant smell could be caused by microbes and bacteria growing in your unit, which can then be disinfected with the use of ultraviolet lamps. Sometimes, duct cleaning is necessary to ensure that microbes and other causes of the smell accumulating in the ductworks are completely removed and the ducts sanitized. A damp odour (like a one-off smell of a wet dog) is an indication that the unit is mouldy, which should be addressed immediately because the mould will be circulated throughout the house, causing serious health issues. Burning smells are also not to be overlooked as they could indicate that the insulation has been damaged.
It’s best to seek professional services instead of making DIY cleaning on your unit because a more intensive technical solution might be required to ensure that the main problem at hand is resolved.
The unit is making unusual noises
Air conditioning units normally produce a low-humming sound while in operation and some low-level noises when they’re being turned on or off. However, if you hear a persistent buzzing or rattling noise, it could be a sign that there’s a loose component within the entire cooling system. It could also be caused by some dirt or dust build-up.
Furthermore, grinding, whistling, grating, sudden or loud sounds can be an indication of a more pressing problem. These problems will typically never go away when left unchecked. You’ll have to turn off your air conditioner at once and contact an a/c specialist especially when there is plastic squealing or loud metal sounds.
Don’t leave these unusual noises from the A/C to guesswork. Contact a dependable A/C repair and maintenance specialist at once for professional air conditioning troubleshooting to ensure proper assessment and resolution of the problem. In some cases, a professional tune-up may be required. Sometimes, a more serious A/C problem may be causing the unusual noises and require a more technical, professional solution.
Leave A/C Servicing to the Experts
Ensure that your air conditioner will last long by having repairs and maintenance done by experienced and reliable cooling system technicians. At Complete Air Systems, we provide premium quality air conditioning service in Perth with more than 30 years of experience in serving both residential and commercial clients. We also provide a complete range of related services from design and installation to support and commissioning.