Call Us Today5 Signs That Your AC Is on the Decline
A reliable AC is a wonder of the modern world. However, these units don’t last forever. At the end of its lifespan, you’ll inevitably notice some problems. For 2020, let us take a very close look at five signs that your AC is on the decline.
1. Wear and Tear
To start things off, visible wear and tear on your AC is never a good thing. If you can see damage to the unit, you know it is on the decline. This could take the form of rust that will slowly corrode the metal. This could be chipped paint that exposes the core of the AC to the rest of your home. While these things might not directly affect the temperature of your home, they will certainly have an impact in the long run. An AC with a weakened exterior will slowly develop cracks and fractures in the rest of the system. Sooner or later, the vents will crack, and you will no longer be able to operate the appliance. Wear and tear can also occur in the interior. When you change the air filter, take a look around. Look for clogs or backups that prevent air from flowing through. Simple backups such as hairballs can easily be removed. However, warped vents or mold eating away at the metal can lead to a permanent decline of your AC. Treat these with extreme caution.
2. Strange Noises
Next, if you hear strange noises coming from your AC, you’ll want to investigate immediately. On the one hand, these noises could be fairly harmless. It could just be a buildup of dust, and all you have to do is change the filter. In this case, the noise will likely be a swishing sound. On the other hand, it could be a severe internal problem. If the problem is internal, the noise will sound like a dull humming that won’t go away. The motor might not be functioning correctly, and the AC isn’t receiving the power it needs. The bottom line is, funny sounds means that your AC is on the decline in some shape or form. It’s best to identify the sound and where it is coming from. If you bring this diagnosis to experts, they will be able to provide a cause and solution. However, don’t be fooled by the regular sounds of the machine. Most units go through cycles where the engine resets itself. As you might imagine, these sounds are no cause for alarm. However, if they continue for a prolonged period of time, there could be a major failure on the horizon. We’ve all fallen into the trap of blocking out these noises like you would with earplugs. Nevertheless, they should not be underestimated at any cost.
3. High Energy Consumption
If you notice that your electricity bill is going up every month, the AC could be the culprit. It’s possible that your AC is consuming more and more energy. In this case, there is something wrong with the unit. It is likely running at suboptimal efficiency, which means more energy is required to perform routine functions. While it doesn’t feel great to shell out extra money, at least you know that the AC needs to be addressed. Look into repairs that will bring your AC back to its best shape. You’ll kill two birds with one stone: you’ll experience terrific cooling in your home and also save on your electric bill. It really comes down to isolating your AC and checking its consumption separately. Consider purchasing a meter specifically for your AC and hooking it up for a week. Record the energy consumption and notice any trends that pop up. In addition to being costly, overconsumption can lead to overheating. An overheated AC poses a real threat to your household. If left unattended, the appliance could burst into flame from an electrical fire or be short-circuited. When there is so much electricity flowing through all the wires, you want to exercise maximum caution around your AC. Don’t make any assumptions about how huge energy consumption is normal for that time of year.
4. Weak Airstream
A weak airstream is another negative sign. Perhaps the air is indeed cool, but it’s only feebly blowing from the unit. This reduces the appliance’s output overall and certainly doesn’t feel good. This is a sign that your AC is at the end of its lifespan. While the point of an AC isn’t to blow air as strongly as a fan, it should definitely produce a reliable airstream. Toggle the fan settings of the unit to see if they make any difference. If you can’t get any results, something has gone wrong internally. Another way to detect a weak airstream is to look at circulation. After a long day at work, come home and turn on the AC. After an hour, check the temperature of each of your rooms. If you notice unusual patterns that aren’t typical, you likely have an airstream problem. This could even be related to some of your other HVAC appliances. Nevertheless, lots of these issues usually stem from the AC unit. If this doesn’t get addressed soon, the air could stop blowing altogether, and you’ll be faced with a dead AC.
5. Not Responsive
Last but not least, an unresponsive AC clearly leaves a lot to be desired. When you turn the temperature all the way down, nothing happens. Perhaps you give it an hour to get there but it never does. Or, the climate of your home only becomes slightly cooler. This defeats the entire point of having an AC, and you need to get this repaired immediately. Once again, try to take any notes that you can to help a technician diagnose the problem. Are there certain temperature thresholds where it is responsive? Does it simply take a long time to get to the right temperature? The more info you can gather, the closer you are to a solution. However, don’t be surprised if you need to install a new unit altogether. This is a very serious issue that often can’t be solved by a simple refurnish. As with many other issues, you can prevent things from snowballing downhill by calling a repair company in the early stages of alarm. In a best-case scenario, you won’t have to resort to a completely new purchase.
Contact Professional Services
When all is said and done, these are some serious signs that your AC is on the decline. When you notice any of these signs, you’ll want to turn to a professional service. A company such as Hoff Heating & AC in O’Fallon, MO, can take a good look at your AC and work on repairs immediately after. We don’t take any shortcuts when it comes to the state of your AC. In addition to AC repair, we offer ductwork fabrication, heat pump installation and energy analysis. Do not hesitate to send us an email or give us a call today!
