How to Tell If Your Home Needs Air Conditioning Repair

Your residential air conditioner obviously needs repair if it starts blowing warm air through the home's vents or if it stops working altogether. However, these are not the only signs that your home's air conditioner needs fixing.

It's never good to wait until your residential air conditioning unit stops working outright or has obvious mechanical issues before you call a repair person as delaying those fixes often allows them to get more extensive and more expensive. Note a few signs that indicate your home needs air conditioning repair so you keep your residential HVAC system in good working order.

Odd Noises

A residential air conditioner might make a humming noise as the fan and belts inside the unit move, but you should never hear thumping, grinding, scraping or other such sounds from your home's air conditioner. Many such sounds indicate that a part has come loose, a belt is worn and about to snap, something is caught in the unit or the motor and fan are struggling to work.

Ignoring such sounds often leads to the unit shutting down completely. Broken and worn parts in the unit might also damage other parts, making repairs even more complicated and costly. Once you hear any unfamiliar noises from your home's air conditioner, shut it down and call for repairs.

Cold and Clammy Feeling

A home's air conditioner removes humidity as well as heat; if your home suddenly feels cool but clammy, your air conditioner might be cycling off sooner than it should, leaving behind that bothersome humidity. The thermostat might be broken or wiring between the thermostat and the unit might be frayed and need replacing.

In some cases, the air conditioner might be oversized for your home so that it blows out too much cold air at once. Whatever the case, an air conditioning repair contractor can note the best solution for ensuring a cool yet comfortable environment in your home.

Spike In Utility Costs

Unless your utility company has raised their rates, you shouldn't see much of a noticeable increase in your utility costs from one month or season to the next. Sudden, sharp increases in cooling costs might indicate that your home's air conditioner is struggling to operate efficiently. In some cases, there might be holes in your home's roof, letting out that cooling air or the house might suffer from poor ventilation, trapping heat inside. An HVAC contractor can assist in finding the cause of your spike in costs and make needed repairs.

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