6 Silent A/C Problems That Could Cost You
Silent air conditioner problems can be easy to miss until we find ourselves without air conditioning on the hottest days of the year. If A/C issues aren’t caught early, they can lead to unexpected costly repairs.
Regularly maintaining your air conditioner can help catch minor problems before they grow into major ones If you’ve neglected regular maintenance on your A/C unit, some silent but damaging A/C problems could go unnoticed.
Here are six silent A/C problems that could end up costing you a significant amount of money:
Refrigerant leaks.
Lines in the A/C system can deteriorate and fail over time, causing refrigerant leaks, which can cause the compressor to stop working. Leaks aren’t always easy to detect because the problem is often in the coolant lines.
One sign of a refrigerant leak is fluctuating temperatures in your home. Another is brightly-colored liquid or stains around the unit.
An A/C unit leaking refrigerant can’t operate as it should, so your home won’t have even cooling.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the refrigerant charge should exactly match the manufacturer’s specifications.
A refrigerant leak is a serious problem that a qualified technician should repair.
Water leaks.
A clogged drain line can lead to water backing up and causing a mold or mildew problem. You may have a water leak if you notice a musty mildew smell.
The drain line should be regularly cleared of dirt and debris.
A water leak can also be caused by a bad condensate pump.
If you detect a water leak, turn the air conditioner off, disconnect the power supply, and call a pro to find the cause and fix the leak.
Leaks that go undetected can cause significant damage that can be costly to repair.
A faulty thermostat.
A faulty thermostat can cause your air conditioner to short cycle, making it turn on and off more than it should but not keeping it on long enough to cool your home adequately.
Short cycling puts a strain on your air conditioner and can damage the compressor and eventually cause it to fail.
If your thermostat is incorrectly mounted in an area receiving direct sunlight, it won’t be able to read the room temperature accurately, so the temperature won’t feel comfortable.
Your thermostat may also need to be professionally recalibrated.
If you still have a manual thermostat, it’s time to upgrade to a programmable model. You’ll have precise temperature control with a programmable thermostat.
You’ll also ease the burden on your air conditioner, as your A/C will only run when you need it, saving you money in energy costs.
A Chas Roberts pro can install a new programmable thermostat in an ideal location in your home.
Electrical problems.
The corrosion of wires and terminals can be a problem in an A/C system.
Sometimes you may smell a burnt odor when there’s an electrical problem, and the motor may have bad wiring.
The problem could also be dirty air filters; your air conditioner will struggle to move air through clogged or dirty filters and can even overheat.
If you haven’t been changing your air filters regularly, you may also notice a decline in the indoor air quality in your home. This can pose a serious health threat to anyone with respiratory problems.
Filters need to be changed as often as monthly in the summer.
Electrical problems are not DIY projects and should only be handled by a professional.
Leaky air ducts.
You probably don’t think much about the air ducts in your home because they’re hidden. However, ducts are an essential component of your HVAC system and need to be kept in top shape.
Leaky air ducts force your air conditioner to work harder to cool your home. Dust, dirt, and pet dander can build up inside poorly sealed ducts and get pushed out into your home.
You’ll see higher energy costs and more wear and tear on your A/C system, as your air conditioner will run more trying to reach the desired temperature.
Uneven cooling often results from leaky ducts, and you may feel no cool air coming from some vents while your air conditioner runs.
According to Energy Star, leaking ducts can reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system by as much as 20%, costing you money.
Repairing leaky ducts is a job best left to a professional.
An aging A/C unit on the verge of failure.
Aging air conditioners can be problematic, as they decline in efficiency as they age, and you may notice that your energy bills are rising and your unit has more frequent breakdowns.
If your aging air conditioner is over ten years old and doesn’t seem to get your home cool enough anymore, it may be time to replace it.
Even the best-maintained air conditioner will eventually need replacement, and it’s usually more cost-effective to replace an aging unit than to repair it continuously.
A Chas Roberts professional can help you choose a new, more energy-efficient air conditioner that’s right for your home.
Regular Maintenance Can Catch Silent Problems
The best way to extend the life of your air conditioner, avoid breakdowns, and catch silent problems is with regular professional maintenance.
A neglected A/C system is far more likely to experience costly problems, and dirt, pollen, and bacteria can accumulate in a neglected unit, posing a health threat to family members.
Chas Roberts has a 26-point maintenance plan to keep your air conditioner running in top condition. It includes:
- Check refrigerant levels
- Lubricate all moving parts
- Adjust thermostat calibration
- Clean condenser coil
- Check airflow
- And more
Maintaining your air conditioner is always more cost-effective than neglecting it.
A pro can detect hidden problems and let you know when it’s approaching the time when you’ll need to replace an aging A/C unit.
Conclusion
Our air conditioners work hard for us during the hottest summer months, and we can do our part by keeping them well-maintained and in peak condition.
Regular maintenance can catch silent A/C problems before they cause significant damage to your unit and your home, and will keep your air conditioner running smoothly and efficiently all summer.
Chas Roberts is the oldest and largest residential HVAC company in Arizona and has been family-owned and operated for over 75 years. Contact us for reliable, quality service.
