Is It Time to Call for Air Conditioning Service?
Air conditioning is primarily important for many people who live in areas that experience brutal summers. When the air is hot and humid, and you feel like you can't stop sweating, the worst thing to follow would be having an inefficient air conditioner. As many people who own these units will attest, poorly serviced and maintained air conditioning units loose their efficiency progressively. To maintain your air conditioning unit in optimal working conditions, you need regular air conditioning service, especially right before summers.
But when do you call for air conditioning service? While obvious symptoms like odd noises and a lack of cool air from your unit make this an easy decision, some symptoms may be harder to spot and diagnose. To avoid a completely broken down air conditioning unit, call for air conditioning service when you observe the following:
Reduced air flow
Your air conditioning unit should be able to pump and circulate air all around your home evenly. When you begin noticing irregularities in the temperature of circulated air within different rooms, there may be a problem with your unit. The first place to look at is your ductwork. Have an experienced air conditioning service provider inspect the ductwork and clean out any obstructing debris in the vents supplying the rooms with irregular air flow. The next thing to monitor is the compressor. A faulty air compressor in air conditioning units may lead to irregular temperature conditions in different rooms. One room may be hotter than the other. Compressors should be fixed by professionals to avoid further damage to these fragile units.
Short cycles
Short-cycling of the air conditioning unit should be right on the "obvious lane" of air conditioning problems. Unfortunately, most of these systems tend to restart themselves after every short-cycle. This leads many people to incorrectly assume that the unit is functioning as was designed. Short-cycling could be indicative of either thermostat problems or electrical wiring problems in the unit. When you observe repeated short-cycles, do not assume that the thermostat is properly turning the unit on and off in response to temperature changes. Have an air conditioning service expert check and confirm the reason for your repeated cycles.
Drips and moisture
While your unit is expected to contain condensation regularly, having drips and moisture within the ductwork, casing, and other less contained regions is a bad sign. Drips may be present because of various breaks in the ductwork. Sometimes, the dripping liquid may be the coolant within your unit. If left for a long time, this liquid may make the internal environs that the unit circulates toxic. Have all drips checked thoroughly by an air conditioning service expert.