Warning Signs Your AC is in Need of Repair
There is a new sound to your air conditioner you do not recognise? Energy bills on the rise for no apparent reason? Or perhaps there are rooms in the house that will not cool off come what may with the thermostat.
You have come to the right place if so. We at Alaskan Air Conditioning & Heating have made Arizona homes comfortable since 1972; our polite Polar Bears can put a struggling unit’s troubles right. Call (520) 214-0423 and we will put you in the picture. But let us first go over some warning signs one would be wise not to overlook.
Why it is important to get ahead of problems
Your AC does not just fail in one fell swoop. It puts out hints. In the kind of heat we have in Arizona, a complete breakdown is more than an annoyance, it can make your home very hard to be in within hours.
Most issues with an AC system will make themselves known long before they are done with you. Spot them and you can have a repair done when it suits you, rather than having to put in an emergency call on the year’s hottest day.
Unusual sounds and odours
A steady hum is what you expect from your AC. When you hear or smell something else, take note:
- Grinding or squealing from the unit
- Banging or clanking of a part that has gone loose or broken
- Repeated clicking as the system makes its attempt to start
- An electrical or burning scent upon turning on
- A musty, moldy smell from the vents
- Hissing indicative of a refrigerant problem
Homeowners too often put up with these things until the noise forces a shutdown. We do not recommend waiting.
Uneven cooling and weak airflow
With the AC on, put your hand to a vent. You want to feel cold, strong air, not something lukewarm and feeble. The blower, ducts or compressor could be the source of poor airflow.
Then there is the matter of unevenness. If one room is like an oven and another like a refrigerator, that is a red flag. A good system will maintain a uniform temperature in the house.
An uptick in energy costs
The utility bill is an excellent way to gauge what is happening. As an AC wears down it has to put in more work for the same cool air and you will see it in your monthly costs.
Should this summer’s figures be higher than last with no change in how you use the system, efficiency is being lost. Getting it mended is the economical thing to do.
Short cycling and running non-stop
Observe the behaviour of your AC. You may notice the unit short cycling, on and off in quick succession, or it will run without end never hitting the set temperature. These are stressful on components and increase energy consumption. Left to their own devices such issues only worsen.
Humidity and leaks
Your AC should be keeping the humidity in check. Puddles by the unit or a general dampness in the home means something is not right. Pooling water is a sign of a clogged drain line or a leak in the refrigerant, matters for a professional to handle.
How old is your system?
Ten years and older and your air conditioner will demand a bit more of you. Small things add up. While not a case for replacement necessarily, regular upkeep is called for. Our Club Membership and MVP Program maintenance plans are designed for the purpose of seeing an older system through, and we can arrange financing with 24 hour approval for any major repairs.
Do not put it off till it is an emergency
Fix an AC problem before it becomes one. There is no need to endure the stress of a failure in the height of an Arizona summer.
We provide 24/7 service to Tucson and Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale. Let one of our polite Polar Bears at Alaskan Air Conditioning & Heating give it an inspection before a minor matter gets out of hand. Give us a ring at (520) 214-0423.