Your air conditioner has been hard at work all summer long cooling your home. And that’s no easy task with how hot it gets here in Florida! But now it’s fall, and the weather is beginning to cool down – or at least it will soon. As the load on your AC lightens, it’s a great time to schedule late-season AC repairs before you switch over to heating for the winter.
If you scheduled maintenance in the Spring this year, you may be able to skip out on this end-of-season tune-up. But if you haven’t invested in AC maintenance yet this year, now is a great time to do so. If you’re interested in repairs or even AC installation in St. Augustine, FL, our team can help. In the meantime, you can learn more about why late-season AC repairs are so important for your HVAC system.
Where’s The Cool Air?
It’s hot outside, and there’s no way around that. But if you feel like the air inside your home is warm too, you may have AC repair needs. The air that blows out of your air vents should feel crisp and cool. If it feels lukewarm, your AC may be struggling to cool your home efficiently.
Over time, the seals around your ductwork can loosen and create gaps that allow cool air to escape. This can lead to around 30% air loss – meaning almost a third of the cool air never even makes it into your home. As cool air escapes, warm air can replace it and make it into your home instead.
If your home still feels comfortable to you, this may not seem like a huge problem. But it is! Your compressor is working even harder to cool your home without the results matching. Your energy bill may go up due to additional energy use. At the same time, your HVAC system is wearing down faster and losing months or years of life due to the additional wear and tear.
Less Airflow
This goes hand-in-hand with feeling less cool air in your home. Even if the air coming through your vents feels cool, the airflow may not be strong. When you hold your hand up to the vent you may even wonder if you can feel the air blowing at all.
When this happens, check your air filter first. It could be that the air filter is full and needs to be replaced. An air filter that is full of dust and dirt can block airflow coming into your system. And once your air filter gets full, dust and dirt begin to make their way into your HVAC system – which is another problem all its own.
Thermostat Usage
If you set your thermostat to a lower temperature or change other settings, you should feel a difference soon after. But if your AC is staying on for too long or not turning on at all, your thermostat may be to blame. When your HVAC system isn’t receiving the correct signals to turn on and off, it can’t function properly.
Another sign that your thermostat isn’t working is when one room is warmer or cooler than the rest of your rooms. If your thermostat is older, it may be time for an upgrade anyway. A smart thermostat can help improve your energy efficiency and save you money on your monthly energy bills.
For reliable AC service and so much more, trust Climate Masters! Serving St. Johns County since 1988 with quality, hometown service. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
