Audrey
During hot summer, air conditioners (ACs) become necessary for most homes. About 90% of houses in the United States use air conditioners and for a good reason. Air conditioners can help keep your home’s indoor air cool and ensure everyone is comfortable. It also reduces your risk of experiencing heat stroke, which is very common, particularly in the summer.
But like other things, your air conditioning system will need regular maintenance to function efficiently and reach its intended lifespan. However, only 43% of homeowners reported having their air conditioners serviced and maintained by professionals. And considering that not everyone can quickly detect the underlying issues of their air conditioner, necessary repairs won’t be done until it’s too late.
Thus, one must recognize the symptoms and indications that your AC requires an emergency repair to prevent issues from escalating. For your guide, here are the following signs that your air conditioner needs emergency repair as soon as possible.
1. Poor cooling of air
This is likely the most obvious sign that your air conditioner needs an emergency repair. The primary job of your AC is to maintain a cool indoor air temperature. If it’s not happening, it only means there could be one or several underlying issues that must be repaired ASAP before the whole unit breaks down and completely stops working.
Thus, if your air conditioner provides poor air cooling, don’t hesitate to contact the technicians immediately. For instance, if you’re in Texas, U.S., you can find an a/c repair West University Place, TX service or other AC repair companies based near your home. They will thoroughly inspect your unit to detect the root cause of the problem and do the necessary repairs as soon as possible.
2. Insufficient or weak airflow from your AC unit
Do you feel the cool temperature but notice that the strength of the airflow is too weak despite running the AC for long periods? You may be experiencing insufficient airflow from your unit. Poor airflow can happen for several reasons, such as:
- Leaky or blocked air ducts
- Clogged air filter
- Problems with the AC blower
- Frozen evaporator coils
Whatever the case, ensure to call for emergency repair immediately. Leaving this issue unfixed will result in higher electricity bills, forcing you to run your AC for even longer periods. It’s also recommended to schedule regular AC maintenance to avoid reoccurring issues, especially if the hotter months are coming. Watch the video below and learn the benefits and importance of a regular AC tune-up.
3. Loud and bizarre sounds
All air conditioning units are designed to operate quietly. They may make noise, but most of the time, it’s almost unnoticeable. However, if you’re starting to hear loud and bizarre sounds of squealing, grinding, hard growls, and rattling, it’s a warning sign that your unit calls for emergency repair.
Those strange sounds are produced when there are issues inside the unit, such as broken components, electrical malfunctioning, a damaged compressor, or loose belts. These problems must be repaired as soon as possible before the entire air conditioning system breaks down, which might lead to costly replacements.
4. Funky or unusual smell from the unit
A well-functioning AC isn’t supposed to stink or produce any smell. If it does, it only means something’s wrong, and your unit needs an emergency repair ASAP. A funky or pungent smell can indicate different problems, such as pest infiltration, burned-out wire insulation, or a possible mold growth somewhere in the unit or the ductwork.
The professionals must diagnose and repair this problem ASAP, as a stinky AC unit is a health hazard and can make you and the household members sick. So, never delay contacting the pros when this happens.
5. Thermostat issues
Sometimes, the problem isn’t in your AC unit but your thermostat. The thermostat is essential to your AC unit as it determines how much cool air should be generated. It measures the room’s current temperature and lets you set the temperature you need for the room.
However, if the displayed temperature doesn’t match the room’s actual temperature, the thermostat must be broken and requires immediate repair or replacement. Another thermostat issue is if your unit won’t turn on or runs for only short periods before turning itself off. In that case, you’ll need to call your AC technician for an emergency repair.
6. High electricity bills
Air conditioners take up about 6% of the electricity in the U.S., and they’re considered the largest energy consumer in the house. If you’re running your air conditioner regularly, it will likely take the same amount of electricity no matter what. However, if you notice that your energy bills suddenly spike one month compared to others when this wasn’t always true—your AC needs emergency repair.
Higher utility bills usually indicate that your AC wastes energy since its components work double as hard to satisfy the demand. The technicians must review your system to diagnose the issue that might have caused your unit to work harder and run longer.
Wrap up
If you detect any of these symptoms happening to your air conditioner, don’t delay calling your AC technician for an emergency repair. The longer you have your AC repaired, the worse the issue might get and the costlier it’ll be for you. More importantly, ensure you have your AC serviced or tuned up by professionals regularly to avoid encountering any of these issues in the future.
