Now that summer is here, it’s more important than ever to take good care of your AC. The last thing you want is to wait for a heating and air conditioning repair company to get things fixed before you can enjoy comfortable temperatures in your home. As a homeowner, the best thing you can do to take care of your AC is keep an eye on things and call an expert when you’ve got a problem. If you want to make sure your St. Paul, MN, home stays cool all summer long, keep an eye out for these common signs of AC problems.
Blowing Warm Air
While it might seem like a major problem, an AC that blows warm air is actually one of the most common heating and air conditioning repair problems. There are a lot of reasons your AC may be failing to generate cool air, but the truth is that it’s probably related to airflow in some way.
Your AC needs proper airflow throughout the unit and ducts to get cool air to your home. When something restricts that airflow, your AC has to work harder to create and transfer cool air. Oftentimes, an AC will blow warm air because the air filter hasn’t been changed in a long time. As this filter gets dirty and clogged, it restricts airflow and you end up having to call heating and air conditioning repair experts.
You should have your air filter changed on a regular basis for a multitude of reasons. For starters, changing your air filter can prevent problems like the one mentioned above. Additionally, your air filter keeps the air quality in your home good, which is particularly important if you have pets or a large family.
Leaks
If you take a look at your outdoor AC unit, you might notice some liquid around it. This is often a result of the condensation your AC creates when it makes cool air, which isn’t a problem. However, it’s important to figure out what’s leaking from your AC and where it’s leaking from, as some leaks are much worse than others.
Refrigerant leaks are the biggest thing you have to worry about when it comes to your air conditioner. If the liquid coming from your AC isn’t water, call a heating and air conditioning repair company right away and have them assess the situation. Refrigerant can be harmful to humans, so it’s best to have somebody who knows what they’re doing handle your refrigerant leak.
If there’s a ton of water pooling up around your AC unit, there may be something else causing that water to build up. If your condensate drain line is clogged, the water in your AC will have nowhere to go. Instead, it will pool up in the drain pan and eventually leak out where it can. If you notice a heavy concentration of water, call a professional and have them make sure everything is okay.
Clanking Noise
It’s normal to hear a little bit of noise coming from your AC, especially if you have a big, powerful outdoor unit. However, those noises should be consistent and fairly quiet. If you hear a loud clanking or banging noise coming from your AC, that’s a sign you’ve got a problem.
Clanging and banging noises are generally signs that you have a loose part somewhere in your AC unit. If that’s the case, the best way to get it fixed is to have a heating and air conditioning repair expert take your AC apart and look for the loose part. If the part isn’t too damaged, they may be able to simply reattach it. This is why it’s important to make sure you’re calling an expert at the first sign of a problem instead of waiting until the problem gets worse.
Squeaks and Squeals
When the AC in your St. Paul, MN, home is working properly, you’ll hear a light whirring sound while the unit is running. This sound comes from the fan blowing air throughout your home. If your AC is making a high-pitched squeaking or squealing sound, that’s a telltale sign that you need heating and air conditioning repair.
A squeaking or squealing sound is generally the result of a problem with a fan or blower motor, as both of these parts tend to get noisy as they’re going bad. If the noise is only occurring at startup, it might not be a huge problem. Ultimately, it’s best to have a heating and air conditioning repair expert determine whether or not you have an AC problem.
Odors
While the air in a room does feel a bit different when an AC is running, you should never smell any bad odors in the air due to your AC. If you notice any strange or foul smells when your AC is running, shut it off and have an expert take a look at it.
In some cases, there may be mold or mildew building up somewhere in your HVAC unit or ducts. If this is the case, that mold is being spread throughout your home when the unit runs. If you smell a dead animal, it could be that something got in your AC unit and died. Either way, you need to call a heating and air conditioning repair company.
Happy to Help
If you want to keep your home comfortable all summer long, keeping your AC in good shape is a must. From health issues to a lack of cooling power, AC problems can really interfere with your daily life.
The good news for those in the St. Paul, MN, area is that taking care of your AC is easy with the help of Blue Ox Heating & Air. When you need heating and air conditioning repair or maintenance, we’re happy to step up and help. If your AC has a problem this summer, call Blue Ox at (952) 563-3012.
