Have you ever gone into a house and turned the AC on, and it just stunk up the room? Or maybe a huge load of dust shot out of the AC when you turned it on? These aren’t great signs, but still, they aren’t the worst indicators that the AC needs repairs.
Identifying when your AC needs to be repaired can be challenging or extremely obvious. For instance, if your AC has one of the issues we mentioned above, it might need a minor service; if it’s making hectic sounds while running, chances are that it’s needed a repair for a while.
In this article, we’ll give you some signs that your AC needs some work so the problem doesn’t get too bad. Here’s what you should look for.
How do Air Conditioners work?
Air conditioners work by using a refrigerant to absorb heat from the indoor air and release it outside. The system has two main parts: an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit pulls warm air from the room and passes it over evaporator coils filled with refrigerant, which absorbs the heat and cools the air.
The cooled air is then blown back into the room. The refrigerant, now heated, is pumped to the outdoor unit, where it releases the absorbed heat into the outside air through condenser coils, allowing the cycle to start again.
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Signs your AC news repairs
Here are a few signs you should look out to know if your AC needs repairs:
- Your electricity bill is climbing
There can be many reasons why your electricity bill could climb through the roof, but a faulty AC is a common suspect. The cause could be several things, such as the thermostat being shot or a leak in your HVAC system. The issue could even just be due to the age of the AC. Either way, if you notice that your electricity bill is skyrocketing, try to measure whether it’s your AC or not. - You’re only getting warm air through the AC system
A telltale sign that your AC has a problem is if it only gives out one temperature. For instance, say your AC only gives you hot air. That kind of defeats the purpose, right? Imagine trying to get through an Australian summer with an AC that only gives off hot air. In this case, you’d need to get a hold of an AC technician ASAP to resolve the problem. - Loud Noise Inside of the AC Unit
Aircons are designed to be fairly quiet. Other than the sound of air coming out of it, you shouldn’t really hear anything else. So, if there’s a loud noise inside of the AC, like something is stuck or rattling, then there’s a good chance your AC will need to go for repairs. - No pressure when running
This is also a common issue with ACs. Over time, air cons can clog from dust that builds up. As a result, the AC has to work harder to blow out the air at the same pressure. If you set your AC at a decent strength and notice there’s very little air coming out of it, there could be a blockage or an issue with the fan. Either way, you’d need to contact a professional to help sort it out. - Strange smells when the AC is on
We mentioned this earlier, but another common is that ACs give off a weird smell. There can be a few reasons for this. For one, this happens often when the AC stands for a long time without being used. Or, the AC could have a loose wire that could burn the plastic it’s attached to and cause a burning smell. If this is the case, then you need to get a professional in immediately to sort it out, as it could be a fire hazard. - Airflow stuck in one direction
This isn’t a huge repair, but it can be annoying if you want the air to circulate through the room properly. When your AC is stuck blowing air in one direction, it could just mean that the motor responsible for turning the fan is broken and needs to be replaced. - Humidity build-up
Air conditioners can help manage the humidity in your home. For example, as you cool the room, you don’t want moisture to build on your appliances or furniture. The same goes for when it’s warming the room up. If you find that using your AC creates a lot of moisture in your home, first check what settings it’s on, and if they’re correct, contact a professional for help. - The air conditioner leaks
Having an aircon that leaks is just the worst. If your AC leaks around the intakes or near the pipes, this could be a sign that it has a refrigerant leak, which means it definitely needs repairs. Freon in ACs is the refrigerant used and is harmful to humans, so it’s pretty important to get that fixed as soon as you can.
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Final Thoughts
Repairing your air conditioner might seem like a hassle at first, but just consider the benefits of having a working AC when summer hits! It’ll all be worth it. Keep an eye on your aircon for any of the signs above and you’ll hopefully catch it before it creates havoc in your home!
