When summer approaches, you want to ensure that your air conditioner is going to function properly. Don’t be caught by surprise with unexpected household repairs. If you pay attention to these ten signs, you will know when your air conditioner is going to need a replacement.
Your Warranty’s Expiring
When you purchased your existing home air conditioning service and unit, it came with a warranty. However, it may have transferred over if you moved into your home after the air conditioning was installed. Regardless of the reason, you may find yourself at the end of the warranty period. If that’s the case, you probably need air conditioner services to hire. If you know your warranty is going to expire, get a professional to check out your unit.
If you have a warranty on your current system, it’s most likely a limited one. The manufacturer dictates how long the warranty period lasts, but it’s typically ten years. If you have a ten-year warranty and the warranty replaces the equipment in year seven, then you have three more years on the warranty. It won’t start over again. Most often, the manufacturer will provide warranty coverage for the rest of the warranty period or one year, whichever term is longer.
You should also know that a limited warranty doesn’t cover everything. It covers the cost of the part. You should not expect it to cover materials and labor, especially if they are minor. If a repair is covered under the warranty, you want to completely understand you owe any money.
It’s Old
As with most things, when your heating and air conditioning systems age, they become less efficient. As your air conditioner ages, its ability to cool down your home deteriorates. When your air conditioning is less efficient, you will start to see higher energy bills. If your air conditioning unit is over 20 years old, it could be at the end of its lifespan. While you can expect more modern air conditioners to last for around 20 years, an older model may only last 10-15 years. This happens because technology continues to improve, and newer air conditioners have more modern systems.
However, you can get the most out of an older unit by having it maintained regularly. Maintenance is high on the list of air conditioner services to hire for your home. You should have your unit maintained and inspected at least once a year. This helps your system work at its optimum performance. It also alerts you to potential problems. When you have a professional technician assess your unit every year, they can look for any potential concerns and fix them. They can also alert you when you have a catastrophic problem that may not be repairable.
It’s Making Loud Noises
If you are beginning to notice that your air conditioning system is louder than it used to be, it could be that you need AC service. You may hear noises like squeaking, grinding, or chattering. These aren’t normal sounds, and you shouldn’t allow them to continue. Instead, you should begin looking for air conditioner services to hire. In general, your air conditioner shouldn’t make a significant amount of noise when it’s running. Rattling and squealing are noises you never want to hear coming from your air conditioning. These sounds could be an indication that your air conditioning unit is on its last leg.
In addition to loud sounds, bad or weird smells are another indicator that it may be time to replace your unit. You want the air that comes out of your vents to smell clean or have no smell at all. If it smells smoky, moldy, or musty, then there is a problem with your system. Your air conditioning is supposed to keep your home cool and comfortable in the summer. When it starts to fail, it may no longer be able to do that. While it’s a large expense, it’s always worth getting your air conditioning replaced when needed.
It’s Leaking
If you notice any type of leaking in or around your system, you should consider air conditioner services to hire. There could be water or freon leaking from your HVAC system. When refrigerant is leaking, you should contact a professional right away because it’s poisonous. You should not let this serious problem go. You should have an air conditioning contractor assess your unit.
If the leak is water, it tends to be less serious. You should still have a professional inspect your unit. Water leaking could be an indication of several things. You can typically still use your unit when it’s leaking water, but you may notice a decrease in efficiency. There is a tube that’s part of your air conditioner that releases condensation. When that tube is blocked or broken, it can cause moisture.
If you don’t know why it’s leaking, you should turn off your air conditioner. If you allow your air conditioner to continue to run, it could cause damage to internal components like the compressor. When your internal air conditioner is leaking, it can be a risk to your ceilings, walls, furniture, and other items. This can cause mold to grow.
Your Energy Bills Are Increasing
You may have noticed that your energy bills are increasing. This is a sign that your air conditioner is not working properly. When there is a problem with your air conditioning, it has to work harder and use more energy. When it uses more energy, it causes your energy bills to increase. This is a sign that you need air conditioner services to hire. You may even notice that your energy bills are increasing, but your house isn’t feeling any cooler. You should have an HVAC check up.
If you upgrade to a new system, you can reduce your energy bills. The efficiency of an air conditioner is measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) points. As your unit ages, it loses points. For every point it loses, you can lose up to nine percent of its efficiency. In addition, when the motor, capacitor, or compressor begins to fail, it can cause higher energy bills. If one of these parts is bad or not working properly, it impacts the ability of the entire system to work. Therefore, you should have it inspected immediately.
It’s Blowing Warm Air
One of the more obvious signs that your AC may need HVAC replacement service is when there is warm air blowing out of your unit. You should consider air conditioner services to hire when there isn’t cold air coming from your unit. Cold air should come out of your air conditioning vents within a few minutes of turning it on. If you don’t feel cold air, it’s a sign that there’s a problem.
There could be a number of reasons why there isn’t cold air coming out of your unit. You may have a blockage in your ductwork or pipes. When this happens, it can restrict airflow. This restriction of airflow is what’s causing a lack of cold air. It’s not something that will resolve on its own. This doesn’t mean that you need to replace your air conditioner, but there is a possibility. It does mean that you need a professional to inspect your unit. Anytime your air conditioning seems as though it’s not working the way it did in the past, you may need to consider a replacement.
It’s Working More Than Usual
Your air conditioning is a need in those hot summer months. For this reason, you want to ensure it’s functioning properly before the hottest months hit. So, when you turn on your air conditioner for the season and you notice it’s working harder, these are air conditioner services to hire. Of course, the problem when your system works too hard is that it’s usually a symptom of a problem. But, then, it creates problems that weren’t there.
HVAC companies can inspect your HVAC unit to determine why it’s working as hard as it is. When your air conditioning works harder, it causes an increase in your energy bills. In addition, you may notice that your system is not cooling as well as you want it to. You may also begin to hear loud and weird sounds. There could also be a musty smell along with all of these other concerns. All of these symptoms indicate that there’s a problem with your air conditioner. The best thing you can do is contact a professional technician to inspect your unit.
The Humidity Isn’t Being Removed
Before you can determine what air conditioner services to hire you need for your home, you should understand how it’s supposed to work. The main job of your air conditioning unit is to remove the humidity from your house. When you notice this isn’t happening, you may need air conditioner repairs.
The way the unit removes humidity from your home is it pulls in the warm air. That warm air then passes over cold evaporator coils. These coils pull both heat and moisture out of the air. Then the air is pushed back inside your home. The air no longer has humidity or moisture in it. When your AC ages, it begins to lose efficiency. You may also find that there are issues with the evaporator coil. All of this means that your system can no longer remove the humidity from the air inside your home as it did.
You will notice that your house feels sticky and clammy. You might also notice that your windows fog up. Moisture also begins to appear around the vents and ducts. This can also cause mold or mildew to grow in your system or home.
You’re Getting a Ton of Repairs
When you find you are contacting a significant number of air conditioner services to hire, you may need a replacement. While it’s important to have regularly scheduled inspections and checkups, there is such a thing as making too many repair calls. If you have more than three repairs in three years, your unit most likely needs a replacement.
If you have an HVAC repair service and you still feel uncomfortable in your home, it’s time to replace your air conditioner. This is especially true if you find that some of your rooms are cool, but others are warm, and your AC is not working well. This is also true if your house feels humid; this means your air conditioner is not working well. If it’s working hard, had repairs, and you still feel the humidity in your house, it’s most likely time for a replacement.
You Want to Improve Your Home’s Value
When you are considering air conditioner services to hire, keep in mind that when you replace your air conditioner, it can increase the value of your home. An AC and heating company can help you understand how a new air conditioning unit can improve the value of your home. It’s helpful to know that a new HVAC system means you get a new air conditioning unit, along with a furnace, potentially ductwork, and potentially heat pumps.
In general, a new air conditioner can improve the value of your home. You can expect the value of your home to increase by as much as 10%. If your house has an HVAC system that is old and obsolete, you will see the highest return on your investment. If you are interested in selling your house and it’s hot and humid, buyers are going to look elsewhere. Your house will not be at the top of their list. If you live in a warmer and more humid climate, you will also see a higher increase in value from a new and modern air conditioning system.
There are many reasons why you would consider an air conditioning replacement. Most of the time, your air conditioner presents signs to let you know there is trouble brewing. You must pay attention to those signs and have your unit inspected.