Your air conditioner is one of those devices you have to watch so it doesn’t die or fail when you need it most. These are some of the most common signs that you might need air conditioning repair:
Your Home Never Cools Off Enough
You might need an air conditioner repair or replacement if you notice that your home never cools off enough. A number of issues could be going on with your AC unit. Dirty filters can restrict airflow, or a clog could also exist in the condenser. Low coolant is another reason AC units stop cooling, but they usually indicate an underlying problem. Another issue likely to cause cooling problems is that your home has insufficient insulation. That has nothing to do with the air conditioner itself, but you should have someone inspect and resolve it to get maximum results after your AC repair.
You Have a Large Electric Bill
Another sign that your AC unit needs to be serviced or maintained is when you receive high electricity bills. A rise in the electricity bill might mean that your air conditioner is trying too hard to operate. That could be a minor issue like dirt or something more extensive like an issue with the condenser coils. It’s best to have an AC tech look at it and help you get it back in top shape.
You Notice Water on the Floor
Water leaks indicate that something is wrong with the drain pan area. The condensation pan may have eroded, which is common in older units. Leaks can also occur when the coils freeze. That issue often occurs when the coolant is low.
Sometimes, a bad installation can cause an AC unit to leak as well. In that situation, an AC expert might solve the problem by doing a re-install for you. In the worst scenario, you might need to have something replaced, but the technician can save your unit.
The most crucial step is to clean the water so that it doesn’t cause water damage, degradation, or mildew on your floors or carpets. Try to find something to catch or absorb the water while waiting for the technician to arrive.
The Unit Goes in and Out of Operation
You might notice that your air conditioner turns off randomly, or worse yet, it turns off and on. The latter issue is called short-cycling, and it happens because of air filter problems, coolant leaks, and faulty thermostats. Thus, it’s best to get in touch with a reliable AC repair company quickly so that someone can investigate it.
An air conditioner that cuts off and doesn’t cut back on is likely to have an electrical issue. The power supply may be going out, or something else has gone awry. You’ll need to check your outlets and breakers before you contact a repair person to ensure the problem isn’t on your side.
Those are a few signs you might need a little help with your air conditioner. However, there’s no need to stress over an air conditioning not working. You can contact a reputable repair company to get help with it today.
It’s hot and muggy outside—so it’s just about the worst time for your air conditioner to break down. Why is this happening? It was working fine yesterday. Is your AC really broken, or do you just need to replace your filter?
Air conditioners require regular maintenance, including a filter change every 30 to 90 days. If you’ve been slacking off on your filter changes, that might be the reason your AC isn’t performing appropriately. Here are some things to troubleshoot before you call your local HVAC company for help:
Check the filter: First, check to see if your AC filter is particularly filthy—which can happen if you’ve forgotten to switch it out regularly, or you’ve been experiencing particularly bad air quality. Dirty, clogged filters will block the flow of cool, clean air completely. Your AC unit might be working fine otherwise. Change or wash the filter, then see if the air conditioner starts pushing out cold air again.
Make sure the unit is plugged in: If the unit doesn’t seem to be coming on at all, there may be a problem with the power supply. First, check to make sure it’s plugged in all the way. If it is, check the main electrical panel to see if the air conditioner has tripped a breaker. Reset the breaker and try again. If the breaker continues to trip, you may need to call an electrician for assistance.
Check the outdoor condenser: If the air conditioner is running, but it doesn’t seem to be pushing out enough cold air, take a look at the outdoor condenser. Is anything blocking the air intake? Weeds, debris, grass, toys, lawn furniture and more could be preventing airflow into the machine. Clean the outside and move anything that’s blocking the air. Then allow your air conditioner to run for a few hours. If you notice a difference, that means the problem is likely solved.
Look at the thermostat: Finally, check the thermostat. Is it on and set to “cool”? If not, you might just need to change the batteries. Turn the temperature down a few degrees and see if the air conditioner kicks on.
Why do I need to replace my AC air filter?
Once you’ve troubleshooted your air conditioner problems, you might forget to change your filter again—but that would be a big mistake. When you fail to replace your filter regularly, it can cause problems. Poor air quality, inefficiency (and the resulting high electricity bills), uneven cooling and malfunctions are all possible.
Your air conditioner might also start “short cycling,” which is when it kicks on and off repeatedly throughout the day. This is supposed to happen—at least on a limited basis—but when your filter is dirty, it can happen every few minutes. Change the filter and see if the problem is solved. If not, call your HVAC contractor for assistance.
When you need AC help, reach out to Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We’d be glad to take a look at your AC and make sure it’s doing its job correctly!
Doing some spring cleaning around the house? Many homeowners find that giving their home a complete physical inside and out is the best way to prepare for the summer months ahead. Air conditioning maintenance is just one task all St. Louis, MO homeowners should complete. Here are the top three reasons why performing AC maintenance before the summer can improve the efficiency of your unit and ensure your home stays comfortable throughout the warm-weather months.
You’ll have peace of mind the very first time you turn on your unit
One of the key reasons why you should complete AC maintenance before the summer is that the weather in St. Louis, MO can be unpredictable. You could experience very hot temperatures even before the official start of the summer season. Even if your air conditioning system worked perfectly at the end of the warm season last year, there are plenty of things that could affect the system in the winter. If you want your unit to start up at the very first sign of hot and humid temperatures, you should have an experienced technician take a look at the unit in the springtime and perform any necessary repairs.
You’ll avoid costly repairs
Air conditioning systems can last a very long time if they’re properly maintained, but replacing the system entirely can be a huge expense that you’ll want to avoid. When you schedule annual inspections in the spring, your technician can spot minor issues that could turn into something bigger down the road. Not only will you avoid the costs of replacing your air conditioner and all of its components, but you’ll also avoid the need for emergency repair service. As you can imagine, air conditioning technicians are busiest during the warm summer months. Instead of paying a premium for emergency services in the summer—and being without a working air conditioner in hot weather—be smart and schedule a spring inspection.
You’ll increase the efficiency of your system
Staying comfortable during the summer doesn’t always come cheap. Running an air conditioning system can be costly if your unit isn’t working at maximum efficiency. When you schedule AC maintenance before the summer, your technician will clean the unit and make sure all of its components are in good functioning condition. It will be much easier for you to keep your home cool even in the hottest of temperatures, and your unit won’t have to work as hard to keep your home comfortable. Maintaining your system is the best way to lower your monthly utility bills—it’s a small investment that saves you money.
When the weather gets hot in St. Louis, MO, a working air conditioning system is something you really can’t live without. By scheduling yearly AC maintenance before the summer, you reduce your chance of needing costly repairs or replacement, and you’ll be sure your system is ready to kick on as soon as you need it. Contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today to schedule routine maintenance service and keep your air conditioning system in excellent condition.
One of the most common air conditioning problems people experience in St. Louis, MO is having warm air blow through the vents when they should be getting fresh, cool air flowing through instead. There’s a large number of possible reasons why an air conditioner could be blowing warm air, but today we’ll focus on just a few of the most common.
Thermostat settings
Any time you’re having temperature issues with the air coming from your vents, your first step should be to check the settings on your thermostat. While it might sound ridiculous, there is a possibility that you have the air set to “heat” instead of “cool.” Other settings, such as “auto” or “on,” may simply result in the fan blowing regardless of whether the air conditioner itself is running and cooling the air. This would cause your AC to blow warm air through the vents during the periods of time when the outside unit isn’t operating.
So, simply put, check your settings on your thermostat and make sure you’ve actually set it up to get cool air coming into your home!
Problems with the outdoor unit
There are a couple main components for every air conditioning system, split between the indoors and the outdoors. The indoor unit will feature the fan that blows the air through your home, but it will only operate if the outdoor components are also working properly.
The outdoor unit features the compressor, which compresses the refrigerant that flows through the system. In most cases, if you’re having a problem with the air conditioner blowing warm air, it’s going to mean there’s either a problem with the compressor or that your system is low on refrigerant.
Problems with indoor systems
While most of the time equipment problems will primarily be found in the outdoor unit, there are some issues that can occur with interior components. It is possible that you have a broken or disconnected air return duct that is pulling in air from the outside or the attic without conditioning it. You might have a circuit breaker that was tripped or a fuse that was blown, which has resulted in power to the AC unit being shut off, so check your circuit breaker or fuse panel and make sure it’s actually getting the electricity it needs to maintain power.
Airflow restrictions
Another potential problem could be that there’s something restricting the amount of air that’s going to or from your air conditioner. Restricted airflow can result in the compressor freezing up. Causes of restricted airflow can include a clogged air filter that needs to be replaced, or dirty coils caused by a general lack of maintenance to your air conditioning system. You should make it a point to have your system inspected and maintained each year by an air conditioning technician so it operates as efficiently as possible and you can extend its usable life.
When you need more information about common air conditioning problems and how you can resolve them, an air conditioner maintenance service in St. Louis, MO can help. Contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today!
Though we may be approaching the end of the summer, we still have some hot days ahead of us. If you’ve been experiencing some issues with your air conditioner, now may be a good time to get your unit replaced, as there is less demand toward the end of the season.
Not every issue with an air conditioner is a sign that it needs to be replaced. Sometimes you’re more than capable of repairing the problem and continuing to use the unit. However, eventually you will get to a point where you’ve invested too much in AC maintenance and repairs for the age of the equipment, and will need to make an AC upgrade in St. Louis, MO.
Here are just a few of the telltale signs you need to update your AC unit:
High energy bills: Have you noticed a sharp increase in how much you’re paying on your monthly energy bills? This could be a sign that your air conditioner is no longer operating as efficiently as it once did. An upgrade can help you find more energy-efficient equipment that will save you a significant amount of money each month on your utility payments.
Issues with airflow: If you’re having a problem getting a sufficient amount of cool air to flow through your vents, this is an obvious problem with your air conditioner. You should be able to get cold air coming through the vents within a couple minutes after you adjust your thermostat. If not, there could be a problem with your piping or ductwork restricting the airflow, or with some of the mechanical parts of your air conditioning unit.
Strange sounds: While it’s completely normal for an air conditioner to make a constant humming sound during operation, there are some sounds that should be cause for concern, such as clanging, banging, scraping or grinding. So, if you notice any of these sounds popping up in your air conditioning system that did not exist before, it’s important that you have a professional come and inspect the system and determine if it’s an issue that can be repaired.
Strange odors: There should never be a smell associated with your air conditioning system—it should be clean and odor free. However, there are some cases where problems within an air conditioning system can manifest themselves in a smoky or burning smell. In some cases, mold or mildew issues can cause a musty odor that emanates from the vents during AC usage.
Moisture buildup: Speaking of mold or mildew, they are likely to form if you’re having any issues with moisture in the system. While there’s always going to be moisture in AC units, there shouldn’t be any leakages or excessive moisture.
Fluid leak: If you see a refrigerant leak coming from the system, this could be a sign of significant problems with your air conditioner and could become dangerous to people or pets.
For more information about some of the most common problems that could indicate it’s time for AC maintenance in St. Louis, MO, or to schedule an air conditioning repair appointment, reach out to Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today.
