When you live in a climate like ours, air conditioning systems aren’t just a luxury, they’re a necessity. If you want comfort and a decent quality of life, you need yours to work impeccably.
Well, just like any other important appliance or piece of equipment, the only way it can work impeccably is if it’s well cared for. One method of caring for your air conditioner is keeping up on your annual maintenance appointments. Maintenance allows our technicians to thoroughly inspect, clean, and adjust your system, all while checking for repair needs.
Taking care of those repair needs right away will reduce your risk of running into a major emergency later on. In fact, maintenance can actually prevent up to 85% of the repairs a cooling system might even need! This doesn’t mean, however, that an air conditioner can’t have repair needs between tune-ups, and this is why you should know the signs of cooling system troubles. We’ve covered a few below!
Sign #1: It’s Not Cooling Like It Used To
Your air conditioner, naturally, is supposed to keep your living space at an even, comfortable temperature. Poor cooling ability might mean something relatively simple—like a miscalibrated thermostat. Or it could be something more serious, such as a refrigerant leak.
Refrigerant leaks are often a bit misunderstood. There are still homeowners out there who think that refrigerant is something that needs to be refilled on a routine basis, but this isn’t the case. Your cooling system is supplied with enough refrigerant to last its entire lifespan, upon installation. So if you’re losing refrigerant, it means you have a leak that needs to be patched up, and the refrigerant needs to be refilled (recharged).
Poor cooling can also be caused by something like a failed compressor or a frozen evaporator coil. Whatever the case, calling a professional to take a look right away will only benefit you.
Sign #2: Poor Airflow
Have you noticed that what used to be a nice robust blast of cold air through your vents has become weak? There could be a couple issues at play here. It might be that your AC system’s blower has started to fail, or there could be a problem with your air ducts. If some rooms in your living space are getting better airflow than other, the latter is typically to blame.
Particles such as dust, mold, and other debris can build up in the cool, damp passages of your ductwork, and this is much more than a simple air conditioning performance problem. It can actually become a health hazard for you and your family.
Sign #3: Thermostat Troubles
Your thermostat serves as the brain of your air conditioner, and your heater. It controls and regulates temperature settings, and if it’s damaged or miscalibrated it can really mess with your comfort. Signs of a malfunctioning thermostat include an HVAC system that won’t turn on or off, a temperature reading that doesn’t correspond to the temperature in the house, or uneven cooling throughout the living space.
For professional air conditioning services and more, contact Climate Masters today. Serving St. Johns County since 1988 with quality, hometown service.
